Addis Ababa as a City (e)scape of Refugee Resilience: A Trialectical Perspective

Abstract

Using Edward Soja’s thirdspace theory, this paper spotlights Addis Ababa as a city of refugee resilience. Beyond the real and imagined representations of resilience, the thirdspace illuminates the multiplicity of refugee resilience in the forms of hope, transience, religiosity, retrospection, flexibility, cultural adaptation, frugality, cultural resources, diaspora ties, co-ethnic support, and transnational and local ties. However, refugee resilience is severely constrained by legal restrictions, policy–practice gaps, resource shortages, language barriers, internal conflict, fear of being targeted, misconceptions about refugees, and some refugees’ strong fervour to emigrate to the West. The study emphasizes the importance of the thirdspace for understanding the incompatibilities of refugee resilience and for improving their well-being and support.