Analysis of the papers published recently in mainstream entrepreneurship journals suggests that the prevailing discourse is dominated by functionalism. With a few notable exceptions, there is a dearth of papers pursuing opportunities for theory development within alternative paradigms.

This special edition seeks to stimulate critical discussion on alternative perspectives to encourage the creation, development and application of theory in entrepreneurship. We particularly welcome submissions that contribute towards theory development within paradigms not normally found within the mainstream entrepreneurship literature. We aim to feature a range of alternative paradigms, which may include, amongst others, interpretivism, Marxism, feminism, Foucauldian, Habermasian, Rortian and Giddensian perspectives.

Authors are expected to embrace an holistic perspective that provides an authoritative account of the implications of the paradigm adopted for the broad arena of entrepreneurship theory development. As researchers we face the need to create and use novel perspectives that challenge the prevailing paradigm of knowledge, theory and research.

Authors should follow the "Notes to Contributors" found in recent editions of the journal. Four printed copies of the manuscript plus a disk-based version in either Word or Wordperfect should be submitted before 30^th June 2002 to:-

Peter L Jennings The University of Southampton, School of Management, Highfield, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom. Telephone: +44 (0)23 80 59 77 88; e-mail: P.L.Jennings@soton.ac.uk.