Palestinian Identity by Rashid Khalidi (.ePUB)(.PDF)
File Size: 17 MB
Palestinian Identity: The Construction of Modern National Consciousness by Rashid Khalidi
Requirements: .ePUB, .PDF reader, 17mb (.ePUB) or 10mb (.PDF) | originally published 1997; new introduction from 2010
Overview: When did Palestinians begin to think of themselves as a people? How far back can the origins of modern Palestinian nationalism be traced?
These questions have preoccupied both scholars and the public for decades; the answers have frequently been influenced by the explosive political realities of the Middle East. Since the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948, Palestinians have dispersed the region—in Egypt, Lebanon, Syria and Jordan, living as well in the occupied territories and Israel itself. Rashid Khalidi explores the evolution of a Palestinian national identity that emerged prior to World War I and spread across the modern geographic borders of their diaspora—an identity that developed because of, and in some cases despite, the obstacles it faced.
Exploring the interplay between different narratives that make up Palestinian history, this book illuminates aspects of the identity of a people about which much has been written, but little understood. The growth of Palestinian nationalism was profoundly influenced by late-nineteenth-century Palestinian scholars, the Arab press, and British colonization; it was not merely a response to Zionism. In fact, Khalidi argues, the fierce conflict between Zionist and Palestinian ideologies is one of the foremost reasons that Palestinian identity continues to be misunderstood.
This foundational text now features a new introduction (2010) by Rashid Khalidi reflecting on the significance of his work over the past decade and its relationship to the struggle for Palestinian nationhood. Khalidi also casts an eye to the future, noting the strength of Palestinian identity and social solidarity yet wondering whether current trends will lead to Palestinian statehood and independence.
Genre: Non-Fiction > History
Free Download links: