Entrepreneurs face many challenges when it comes to starting their own business, from raising capital to writing a good business plan. But entrepreneurs in places like Iraq, Afghanistan, Congo, Nigeria and Colombia face a different sort of battle. According to the results of a study from Cornell University's Johnson School of Management, entrepreneurial success depends on a nation's political stability. Wesley Sine, assistant professor of management and organizations, and Shon Hiatt, a Cornell graduate student, presented their findings yesterday at a conference in Philadelphia. The researchers followed 730 Colombian entrepreneurs over the course of four years and found that political violence makes it more difficult for entrepreneurs to obtain capital and to find potential business partners or clients. "In our sample of entrepreneurial ventures in Colombia, political turmoil inhibited the willingness and ability of these entrepreneurs to expand their social networks and thereby grow their businesses," said Sine.

Their solution may be easier said than done: Sine and Hiatt suggest these governments create incentives for entrepreneurship and allow small-business owners to safely broaden their networks.