To Stand with Palestine - by Karam Dana

About the Book

"Without an official homeland, argues Karam Dana, the Palestinian political self by necessity assumes the form of global collective activism. The book takes a historical and multidisciplinary approach to the issue of Palestinian activism from the start of the conflict to the present day. Dana, himself a Palestinian American, draws on interviews with key Palestinian expatriate activists, historical documents, and public opinion data to examine the impact of global Palestinian exiled communities on the creation and molding of a refined Palestinian identity both in the United States and in the broader international community. The book explores the ways that Palestinian identity is strengthened by the lack of a defined home nation and how a coalition built on exile orients itself on a right of return to a distant homeland, even after many generations have strong roots in their adopted countries. Palestine is an enduring issue in global politics, and To Stand with Palestine is a remarkable and timely study that gives a unique inside look at how Palestinians view their political selves and their place in the geopolitical order"-- Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

In recent years, attitudes in the United States toward the Palestinian cause have shifted dramatically. Although Palestinians have long been demonized in U.S. media and politics, their struggle portrayed as illegitimate, emergent progressive voices increasingly challenge the status quo on Israel and Palestine and express solidarity with Palestinian resistance. What accounts for this change and its evolution?

This book provides a new lens on activism around Palestinian issues, demonstrating how the global Palestinian diaspora has driven transnational political movements. Karam Dana explores the ways that exile has shaped Palestinian identity and allowed for new forms of global activism. He examines the social, political, economic, and technological forces that have created space for Palestinian voices to be heard by wider audiences worldwide. Drawing on interviews with scholars and advocates--including members of the Palestinian diaspora and Jewish American activists--as well as public opinion data and media analysis, Dana traces how global Palestinian communities have influenced American views. He addresses the backlash against pro-Palestinian advocacy but argues that solidarity with Palestinians--both in the United States and globally--will continue to strengthen. Timely and insightful, To Stand with Palestine offers an inside look at how Palestinians have shared their story with the world and why sympathy for their plight is growing, with significant implications for the global political landscape.

Review Quotes

A profound shift in public opinion is underway toward broader sympathy for Palestine and the Palestinian people. What makes Dana's book so vital and timely is its methodologically inventive exploration of this shift: why it has occurred, the factors underlying it, and, especially, where it is likely to lead. In doing so, Dana also deepens our understanding of how Palestinians have forged and maintained a resilient transnational identity, the political role that diaspora communities play in their host countries and their countries of origin, and how young activists worldwide have come to carry the torch for justice in Palestine. This book is essential reading.--George Bisharat, author of Palestinian Lawyers and Israeli Rule: Law and Disorder in the West Bank

Meticulously researched and written before Israel's latest attack on Gaza, Dana's To Stand with Palestine helps readers understand the underpinnings for the groundswell of global support and solidarity--including on university campuses--with Palestine that we see today.--Diana Buttu, Palestinian lawyer and political analyst

About the Author

Karam Dana is the Alyson McGregor Distinguished Professor of Excellence and Transformative Research and the founding director of the American Muslim Research Institute at the University of Washington Bothell.