Navigating contingent transitions: A comparative study of in-between spaces in Belfast and Caracas

In cities marked by conflict, inequality, and segregation, the examination of in-between spaces provides valuable insights into the socio-spatial dynamics amidst polarised communities. These in-between spaces serve as arenas where contested territories intersect, yet their potential to adapt and transform remains underexplored. This research employs a comparative case study to scrutinise the in-between spaces of Belfast, Northern Ireland, and Caracas, Venezuela. Both cities are marked by enduring legacies of conflict, political upheaval, and identity complexities. By embracing contingency as a theoretical framework, this study investigates how transitions influence in-between spaces within divided contexts, leading on the concept of permanent resistance. The findings reveal that in-between spaces embody characteristics of liminality and interaction associated with identity and vulnerability, enabling them to adjust and react to contextual flux. By bridging global perspectives, this interdisciplinary inquiry offers critical insights of how contextual disruptions interact within divided cities, and the interplay between contingency, urban transitions, and in-betweenness aimed at transcending enduring divisions.