ABSTRACT
This chapter presents and analyses various strategies employed by participants to manage and control hope while navigating the complexities of the asylum process. It explores the nuanced ways in which hope operates as both a coping mechanism and a form of resistance against oppressive structures. The discussion problematises the dual nature of hope, acknowledging that while some individuals actively cultivate and sustain hope as a means of resilience, others find it necessary to reduce or even abandon hope as a strategy for coping with uncertainty and adversity. By examining these diverse approaches, the chapter stresses the importance of situational and contextual factors in shaping individuals’ hope management strategies. It further argues that the ways in which hope is mobilised or minimised are deeply embedded in broader socio-political and legal landscapes that asylum seekers navigate. Ultimately, the analysis emphasises how hope, as both an adaptive and resisting force, is intertwined with the structural constraints and opportunities that define the asylum context.
