CHUM 23A02 - Palestinian citizens of Israel, voices from the margins. Historical and anthropological perspectives

In recent years, anthropological and sociological studies on Palestine and Israel have brought to the foreground the analytical concept of “settler colonialism”. Applying this concept to the geographical area of the ex-British Mandate in Palestine creates a potential upheaval in how the current conflict and all sociological phenomenon related are analysed and understood. Local developments since October 7th 2023 have only accelerated and extended the urgency of new appraisals in light of the settler colonial paradigm. How does the concept help lift a veil on local developments and past events? Are there limits or specifics to its application to Palestine-Israel? This course proposes to consider new approaches to the general Palestinian Israeli question made possible by this analytical concept. We will do so through the study of the specific and often misleadingly marginalised case of Palestinians who are citizens of the State of Israel. From a disciplinary point of view, the course will provide both historical and anthropological perspectives on the Palestinian citizens of Israel. We will begin by covering the geographic, historic, political and sociological elements that allow an understanding of the specific situation of Palestinian citizens of Israel and their inclusion in the bigger picture of Palestine and Israel. Following this, we will introduce a few anthropological concepts ranging from collective memory, memoricide, borders, performance, home and anti-home, and settler colonialism with a selection of case studies from fieldwork. The latter will include examples of Internally Displaced Palestinians of 1948, destroyed villages and landscape planning. Although focusing on Palestinians who are citizens of Israel, the course does not intend to remain confined to their specific condition. The course aims to address general themes like settler colonialism, to question the conditions and limits of democracy in Israel and a future for Palestine. In the undertones we will be pondering possible solutions for this region beyond those advocated by the political language of “Two States”.

Adoram SCHNEIDLEDER

Séminaire

English

Autumn 2025-2026

To validate this course the student is expected to pass the following assignments: 1. An in-class exam on paper covering general knowledge and some more conceptual questions: historical facts, numbers, geographical questions. 2. An oral presentation on a theme decided on during the beginning of the course to be done either alone, or in two or in three. 3. A paper to be written at home applying some of the conceptual tools (borders and home versus anti-home) to the novel by Sayed Kashua, Let It Be Morning.