Abstract
To a degree, the history of all hitherto existing Palestinian politics is the history of political factionalism. Heterogeneity and ideological pluralism have defined Palestinian political life from its inception, giving rise to a spectrum of different political outlooks that have long been considered unique in the Arab world.1 Yet, Palestinian political life has been defined not only by ideological heterogeneity, but also as a succession of distinct chronological phases, in which different political factions have at different periods of time laid claims to representing the Palestinian national movement in its totality. 2
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Notes
Nathan J. Brown, “Evaluating Palestinian Reform,” Carnegie Papers Middle East Series no. 59 (May 2005). 2.
Helga Baumgarten, “The Three Faces/Phases of Palestinian Nationalism 1948–2005,” Journal of Palestine Studies 34, no. 4 (2005 ): 25.
While these distinct phases of Palestinian factionalism are clearly distinguishable, alternative parallel forms of organization such as elements of traditional leadership have been permanent features of Palestinian politics for decades as well. See Abdelaziz A. Ayyad, Arab Nationalism and the Palestinians 1850–1939 ( Jerusalem: PASSIA, 1999 ). In this context, also the relevance of independent Palestinian grassroots activism has to be acknowledged. Here, the most prominent example is certainly the Palestinian intifada erupting in 1987. As political scientist Mary Elizabeth King puts it, ultimately the intifada was based on the initiative of activists, who “stopped waiting” for political movements to act and “became involved in the broad, popular mobilization” Mary Elizabeth King, A Quiet Revolution: The First Palestinian Intifada and Nonviolent Resistance (New York: Nation Books, 2007), 102. However, while the established Palestinian factions were clearly at first taken by surprise by this independent activism, they soon managed to regain the initiative and absorbed the unleashed political momentum.
Nathan J. Brown, Palestinian Politics after the Oslo Accords. Resuming Arab Palestine (Berkeley/Los Angeles, CA: University of California Press, 2003).
On the establishment of the PNA and the resulting characteristics of the emerging political system, see Nigel Parsons, The Politics of the Palestinian Authority. From Oslo to Al-Aqsa (London: Routledge, 2005).
Nadia Nasser-Najjab, “Palestinian Political Movements: Should They be Registered?” Palestine-Israel Journal 12, no. 1 (2005): 13–19.
Amal Jamal, The Palestinian National Movement. Politics of Contention 1967–2005 (Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press, 2005), 141.
Jamil Hilal, “The Polarization of the Palestinian Political Field,” Journal of Palestine Studies 39, no. 3 (2010): 24–39.
Asad Ghanem, Palestinian Politics after Arafat—A Failed National Movement (Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press, 2010).
Daoud Kuttab, “Wanted: New Palestinian Political Parties,” Huffington Post, April 21, 2011, accessed June 1, 2012, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/daoud-kuttab/wanted-new-palestinian-po_b_851848.html.
For a broader historical account of the development of Palestinian political life, see Yezid Sayigh, Armed Struggle and the Search for State. The Palestinian National Movement 1949–1993 (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1997).
Iyad Barghouti, Political Secularism and the Religious Question in Palestine (Ramallah: Ramallah Center for Human Rights Studies, 2012), 12.
Khaled Hroub, Hamas. A Beginner’s Guide (London: Pluto Press, 2010), 24.
Copyright information
© 2013 Michael Bröning
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Bröning, M. (2013). Political Factions in Palestine: Stagnation, Ambiguity, and Change. In: Political Parties in Palestine. Palgrave Macmillan, New York. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137296931_1
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137296931_1
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, New York
Print ISBN: 978-1-349-45193-7
Online ISBN: 978-1-137-29693-1
eBook Packages: Palgrave Political & Intern. Studies CollectionPolitical Science and International Studies (R0)