Harb et al._FINAL_for JRS.pdf (748.25 kB)
Entrepreneurial refugees and the city: brief encounters in Beirut
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-09, 12:21 authored by Mona Harb, Ali Kassem, Watfa NajdiLebanon is hosting more than 1 million Syrian refugees. For a country of its size, and a population of around 4 million, this influx of Syrians into Lebanon has exposed many of its already established ailments. A prevailing perception is that Syrians are establishing businesses and competing with the Lebanese, leading to violent reactions on the part of host communities. In this article, we seek to debunk the reductionist framing of ‘the Syrian refugee’ as a burden, and showcase the economic contribution that some Syrian entrepreneurs have been making to urban neighbourhoods. While entrepreneurs certainly represent a minority of the refugees in Lebanon, we argue that, rather than being competition, Syrian entrepreneurs are complementary to Lebanese businesses in urban areas, and that Syrian businesses are enriching spatial practices in the city. As such, we claim their experiences are significant to document as they can inform useful policy interventions that can render Syrian self-employment an opportunity for local economic development in cities and towns.
History
Publication status
- Published
File Version
- Accepted version
Journal
Journal of Refugee StudiesISSN
0951-6328Publisher
Oxford University PressExternal DOI
Issue
1Volume
32Page range
23-41Department affiliated with
- Sociology and Criminology Publications
Full text available
- Yes
Peer reviewed?
- Yes
Legacy Posted Date
2018-03-02First Open Access (FOA) Date
2018-03-06First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date
2018-02-28Usage metrics
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