Encountering Palestine: Un/making Spaces of Colonial Violence

Encountering Palestine: Un/making Spaces of Colonial Violence, edited by Mark Griffiths and Mikko Joronen, explores power, colonialism, and anti-colonialism in contemporary Palestine and Israel. The essays focus on the ways violence and struggle are un/made in the encounter between the colonizer and colonized, addressing empirical topics such as marriage, queer aesthetics, policing, demolition, armament failure, and violence. The contributors utilize diverse theoretical frameworks to understand the cultural making and unmaking of colonial and anti-colonial space in Palestine.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 292 pages
Publication date: 15 December 2023
Publisher: University of Nebraska Press

Encountering Palestine: Un/making Spaces of Colonial Violence, edited by Mark Griffiths and Mikko Joronen, is a groundbreaking work that delves into the complex intersection of cultural and political geographies, offering innovative insights into power, colonialism, and anti-colonialism in contemporary Palestine and Israel. The book is organized around the theme of encountering, emphasizing the ways in which violence and struggle are constructed and deconstructed in the interactions between the colonizer and the colonized.

The essays in Encountering Palestine focus on power relations as they manifest in cultural practices and everyday lives in anti-colonial Palestine. Spanning various sites in Gaza, the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Israel, the book addresses a wide range of empirical topics, including marriage and queer aesthetics, policing, demolition, armament failure, and violence. The contributors employ diverse theoretical frameworks, such as hyperreality, settler capitalism, intimate biopolitics, and politics of vulnerability, to enhance our understanding of the cultural creation and destruction of colonial and anti-colonial spaces in Palestine.

One of the key strengths of Encountering Palestine is its ability to challenge conventional narratives and provide a fresh perspective on the ongoing conflict in the region. The book challenges the notion that colonialism and power operate solely in the physical realm and highlights the ways in which cultural practices, ideologies, and social structures contribute to the perpetuation of colonial violence. By examining the ways in which Palestinians struggle against oppression and resistance, the book sheds light on the diverse lifeways that continuously encounter, un/make, and counter the spaces of colonial violence.

Through its comprehensive analysis, Encountering Palestine prompts us to rethink our understanding of colonialism and power in Palestine. It challenges us to consider the ways in which Palestinians have resisted and challenged colonialism, as well as the ways in which they have created alternative forms of resistance and resilience. The book also highlights the importance of recognizing the cultural and political complexities of the region and the need for a more nuanced and intersectional approach to understanding the conflict.

In conclusion, Encountering Palestine: Un/making Spaces of Colonial Violence is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the complex dynamics of power, colonialism, and anti-colonialism in contemporary Palestine and Israel. The book offers innovative insights and challenging perspectives that will deepen our understanding of the region's history and present. By examining the ways in which violence and struggle are constructed and deconstructed in the encounter between the colonizer and the colonized, Encountering Palestine provides a valuable contribution to the ongoing debate about the future of Palestine and Israel.

Weight: 446g
Dimension: 152 x 227 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781496237491