A Critical History of the Israeli/Palestine Conflict

label Diverse autorenew 2025-09-29, 17:01 history_edu Silviu Marinescu
The Israel/Palestine conflict is among the most contested issues globally, with sharply contrasting opinions among scholars and the public generally. Raging for the past century, and dominating the headlines for decades, the Israel/Palestine conflict continues to elicit interest, involvement and concern well outside the Middle East. In this module we approach the conflict from a scholarly perspective - in order to understand, analyse and relate it more broadly. The aim is to provide students with the tools to approach a topic of historical complexity and sharp contention - and to make sense of it.The module provides a historical overview of the Israel-Palestine conflict and examines its political, social and cultural reflections, from the late Ottoman Palestine to the present day. The course combines sociological and political analysis, following political narratives as well as social history "from below", to give students a rich understanding of the conflict. It brings a variety of contrasting perspectives on the conflict, its underlying causes and dynamics; these perspectives include not only the two "official" narratives, the Israeli and the Palestinian narratives, but also those of voices of marginalised groups. Attention will be given to groups whose position does not fit easily with the nationalist narratives: local Jewish communities in Palestine, Arab Palestinian collaborators with the British and the Zionists, Middle Eastern Jews in Israel, and Palestinian citizens of Israel. Comparative perspectives on gender, minorities, and political religion will be used to question the differences and similarities of the two sides.

Period
30-06-2014 - 18-07-2014 (3 weeks)

Target group
Students in Higher and Further Education.

Course aim
At the end of a course, a student should be able to: Understand the overall historical framework of the development of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the 20th century as seen from several contrasting viewpoints. Analyse key aspects in this highly contested topic, through critical reading of the literature of its many shades; argue her own position while engaging with other viewpoints. Think critically about the categories of analysis of the conflict, and consider the conflict in wider terms than the historical specificities of Israel/Palestine, in terms of global and regional developments. Demonstrate awareness of the underlying social forces and effects of the conflict on both Israeli and Palestinian societies.

Credits
7.5 ECTS creditsStudents are usually able to obtain credits from their home institution and generally our courses receive 3 credits in the US system and 7.5 ECTS in the European system. However the summer courses remain non-accredited by SOAS. If you intend to claim credits from your home institution, please check the requirements with them before you enrol.

Course fee
GBP 1250[Convert to USD]Tuition fees.GBP 800[Convert to USD]Accommodation fees.-

Course leader
Yair Wallach

Scholarships
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SOAS, University of London Enterprise
Address: Thornhaugh Street London
Postal code: WC1H 0XG
City: London
Country: United Kingdom
Website: http://www.soas.ac.uk/summerschool/ug/
E-mail: summerschool@soas.ac.uk
Phone: +44 0207 898 4205