ABSTRACT
This chapter argues for an understanding of processes of structural change that builds upon an actor-oriented perspective of social action and, more particularly in this case, of entrepreneurial action. It also argues for the usefulness of an actor-oriented approach in studying structural change. The chapter looks at the role of entrepreneurship in societal change in Tanzania. It seeks to explain how entrepreneurs' social actions may have structural consequences in both the formal and informal spheres. The chapter focuses on a few of the strategies involved to show how they are embedded in a particular social context and discusses their repercussions on the restructuring of contemporary Tanzanian society. Actions are indeed socially embedded, as entrepreneurs manoeuvre between the different obstacles and opportunities that formal and informal institutional frameworks provide. In the informal sphere, the preservation of social relations is more important than securing economic gains.
