Resilience in the Face of Adversity: An analysis of the refugee entrepreneurial population and their resources in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States.

Author

Zahin Mahbuba, Hollins UniversityFollow

Year of Graduation

2022

Document Type

Thesis

Major

International Studies

Directing Professor

Dr Jon Bohland

Abstract

This study presents an overview and analysis of refugee entrepreneurship in the United States' Mid-Atlantic region for refugee entrepreneurship by interviewing three refugee entrepreneurs and two professional individuals who actively work with refugee entrepreneurs. It introduces the refugee population and climate in the United States, and examines the connections between forced migration and entrepreneurship in the present literature along with factors that affect access and viability of entrepreneurship due to economic and social barriers, cultural and familial influences and financial hurdles. Through the interviews and examination of existing literature, three different traits distinguished refugee entrepreneurs in the region, according to the data. These characteristics included a risk tolerance, a family-community orientation, and an openness, willingness, and ability to adapt to changing/new circumstances, illustrating how refugees use entrepreneurship to maximize the pool of opportunities in their host countries and eventually become self-sufficient and a long-term economic asset.

Recommended Citation

Mahbuba, Zahin, "Resilience in the Face of Adversity: An analysis of the refugee entrepreneurial population and their resources in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States." (2022). Undergraduate Honors Theses, Hollins University. 42.
https://digitalcommons.hollins.edu/ughonors/42