migrants' economic adaptation to the host country toward their international entrepreneurial activities for opportunity development in dual social fields (Drori, Honig and Wright, 2009). Still, research on internationalization beyond this duality remains underdeveloped, and very little is known about locational dynamics, mechanisms, and processes that contemporary migrants and diasporans employ in international entrepreneurship and international business (cf. Tung, 2008; Brinkerhoff, 2016).
Understanding the entrepreneurial internationalization processes and dynamics of migrants and diasporans may illuminate novel aspects for EI (cf. Jones & Coviello, 2005). These entrepreneurs cross borders and explore and effectuate business opportunities internationally often in demanding contexts that connect markets (Emontspool & Servais, 2016; Elo, 2016). This special issue invites exploration of these IE actors and their EI processes and behaviors. It welcomes the analysis of multiple international entrepreneurial activities, inward and outward internationalization, as well as cooperative arrangements (Welch & Luostarinen, 1993).
Conceptualizing the "international entrepreneur" in IE is a fundamental issue for theory development and requires further debating. This "who" question is highly challenging-both theoretically and practically-especially in the era of increased mobility due to globalization, which blurs the distinction between national and international contexts (e.g., Peiris, Akoorie & Sinha, 2012; Jones et al., 2011; Zahra, Korri & Yu, 2005; Etemad, 2004; Dimitratos & Plakoyiannaki, 2003; McDougall & Oviatt, 2000; Dana, Etemad & Wright, 1999). Beyond the complex nature of the entrepreneur-actor, EI is a dynamically adoptive phenomenon (cf. Etemad, 2004). Therefore, EI processes, their context, and their participants need more attention, for example, regarding respective preconditions, sequences, paths, and behaviors (cf. Drori, Honig & Wright, 2009; Elo, 2016). Differences in how these entrepreneurial actors behave when exploring and exploiting opportunities compared to other international entrepreneurs may stem from their market-specific knowledge, culture, or religion (cf. Riddle et al., 2010; Elo & Volovelsky, 2016 forthcoming). Their cultural, linguistic, religious, and other in-group and in-between features represent particular resources and competences for EI (e.g., Brinkerhoff, 2009, 2016).
Still, very little is known about these people and their particular capabilities or about how these capabilities influence EI. However, they appear to be unique and seem to have distinct mechanisms and advantages (cf. Johanson & Vahlne, 1990; Drori et al., 2009; Elo, Harima & Freiling, 2015; Brinkerhoff, 2016).
Capturing the economic potential and the roles of migrants and diasporans as change-making entrepreneurs in international business and economic development deserves research attention (Usher, 2005; Newland & Tanaka, 2010). Their effects for IE and globalization are broader than what has been acknowledged in the literature (Brinkerhoff, 2009; Riddle et al., 2010; Newland & Tanaka, 2010; Riddle & Brinkerhoff, 2011; Nkongolo-Bakenda & Chrysostome, 2013; Elo, 2016; Brinkerhoff, 2016). Engagements in EI and consequent international business are of importance to innovation, economic development, and competitiveness at the firm to the country level (e.g., Tung. 2008; Brinkerhoff, 2016). These connectors and interlocutors- together with their networks-incorporate multi-actor dynamics and embeddedness, which influence internationalization, its speed, and locus and provide opportunities, capabilities, and direct connections (cf. Johanson, & Vahlne, 2009; Coviello & Cox, 2006; Jansson & Sandberg, 2008; Brinkerhoff, 2016). Global and digital diaspora networks appear to foster internationalization and expansion (e.g., Riddle & Brinkerhoff, 2011; Riddle et al., 2010).