Perceptions and pathways of resilience in Addis Ababa
International Journal of Building Pathology and Adaptation
ISSN: 2398-4708
Article publication date: 25 July 2018
Issue publication date: 7 September 2018
Abstract
Purpose
Resilience has recently attracted widespread interest in the field of urban planning and theory. However, the research that has been conducted on urban resilience in Africa has major theoretical and methodological gaps. This can lead to problems when designing and implementing resilience strategies there. Understanding African perspectives can be a way of tackling these. The paper aims to discuss these issues.
Design/methodology/approach
Using the example of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, this paper analyses expert interviews based on a grounded theory approach. The goal is to explore locally specific perceptions of and pathways to urban resilience. By comparing these findings to those reported in the existing literature, differences and overlaps are identified.
Findings
This study provides evidence for the existence of locally specific perceptions of and pathways to urban resilience. Furthermore, it identifies urban development pathways such as complete urban makeover (tabula rasa) and complete negation of change (resistance).
Research limitations/implications
Because this study uses Addis Ababa as a singular case and expert interviews as method, it rather represents an initial attempt at exploring a new research field than claiming generalisability. Its quality and significance lie in its discursive approach and theory formation.
Practical implications
This exemplary study from Ethiopia demonstrates that a regionally specific understanding of urban resilience is valuable for the design and implementation of urban resilience strategies.
Originality/value
This study offers unique insights into urban resilience from an African perspective and into the manifestation of urban resilience in Addis Ababa.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank Ekkehard Knopke, Israel Tesfu, Metadel Sileshi, Michaela Honauer, Nadine Kuhla von Bergmann, Saskia Kuliga, and Susanne Wagner for their valuable input. This research was funded by BMBF, German Federal Ministry of Education and Research.
Citation
Baron, N. and Cherenet, Z. (2018), "Perceptions and pathways of resilience in Addis Ababa", International Journal of Building Pathology and Adaptation, Vol. 36 No. 4, pp. 337-352. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJBPA-02-2018-0014
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited