Ethnic Entrepreneurship in Athens: Integration through Culture and Cuisine

Florencio, Venté (2025) Ethnic Entrepreneurship in Athens: Integration through Culture and Cuisine. ACTA HUMANA: HUNGARIAN CENTRE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS PUBLICATIONS, 13 (4). pp. 73-85. ISSN 0866-6628

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Abstract

Focusing on three case studies, this study analyses the relationship between ethnic entrepreneurship and cultural integration in Athens, Greece. Drawing on qualitative research conducted during the “Migration in the Margins of Europe” Winter School, it examines how migrant-owned restaurants serve as economic growth, cultural expression, and community building spaces. This paper highlights how Athens-based Nigerian, Georgian, and Turkish entrepreneurs navigate regulatory barriers, financial limitations, and social integration while establishing food businesses that reflect their cultural identities. Through in-depth interviews and comparative analysis, the study identifies common patterns and contrasts in funding access, customer demographics, and engagement with host communities. While ethnic entrepreneurship fosters a degree of socio-economic integration, gaps in public policy persist, especially concerning access to information, support networks, and banking. The article concludes with policy recommendations aimed at strengthening institutional support for ethnic entrepreneurs, advocating for more inclusive legal and financial frameworks. This study provides a grounded understanding of how the broader migration-integration nexus in urban Europe can shape ethnic food businesses.

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