Investigating violence, culture, and resilience in the Israel-Palestine conflict and their international implications

Abstract

At a considerable geographical distance from Europe, a violent conflict has recently re-ignited. Although the Israel-Palestine conflict is situated far from European shores, it has sparked a global mobilisation, with populations worldwide advocating for solidarity with the involved parties, transcending its local confines and assuming a more global character. While the discourse surrounding this issue is often dominated by emotionally charged and politically biased narratives, this panel is dedicated to fostering a space for dialogue grounded in scholarly inquiry and empirical research, encompassing extensive fieldwork spanning from Germany to Palestine. The papers presented will delve into the conflict's capacity to impact attitudes and mobilise demonstrations in Germany, and will incorporate empirical data from the West Bank to provide a nuanced portrayal of the personal realities faced by individuals there. Paper 1 reviews the lived experiences and encounters at checkpoints between Palestine and Israel by drawing on google reviews and analysing it using a mixed-methods approach. Paper 2 sheds light on the intersection of peace, culture and resistance. Resistance is primarily understood through cultural practices at the grassroots level. Paper 3 presents a unique analysis of political tourism in the West Bank and Israel. Tourism is mobilised as a tool of resistance by Palestinians, whereas it is an educational tool by Israelis. Paper 4 expands the horizon beyond the Middle East to Germany – a country that has recently been a harbour for protest movements related to the Israel-Gaza war. Employing a survey experimental approach, it studies how various forms of protest including collaborative action between Muslims and Jews can affect intergroup attitudes. Paper 5 also employs a survey experiment to differentiate the effects of intergroup violence, committed by state and non-state actors in Israel, on the support for various forms of protest within the context of Germany. The proposed panel is anchored in a robust empirical methodology, utilising a diverse array of research tools such as survey experiments, comprehensive data analysis, and innovative art-based and participatory research techniques. Our panel proposal is well-aligned with the primary objectives of the section 'Advances in the Study of Statehood, Sovereignty, and Conflict.' It concentrates on the international implications of a prominent and violent conflict, the involvement of non-state actors in this context, the impact of conflict-related governance structures on local populations, and the dynamics within a community that has demands for self-determination. We propose five papers for the panel, which we believe are important contributions not only to the section but also to the academic and public debates surrounding this issue. The proposed papers bridge methodological divides by uniting quantitative and qualitative approaches, employing mixed-methods designs, and different research traditions. Additionally, the panel's composition is conscientiously balanced in terms of gender, country of origin, and academic seniority, thereby ensuring the representation of a wide range of perspectives. This inclusive approach not only unites scholars from various stages in their careers but also actively fosters opportunities for early career researchers to present and discuss their novel research.

Title	Details
The social architecture of checkpoints: the case of Palestine	View Paper Details
Negotiating Cultural Resistance: Riwaq's Cultural Initiatives and the Oslo Paradigm in the local and global arenas	View Paper Details
"Those who control the past, control the future" - Agency and Narrative in Palestine/Israel’s Conflict/Political Tourism Industry	View Paper Details
The impact of critical counter-movements in the context of violent inter-group conflicts on outgroup hostility and mobilisation	View Paper Details
The use of violence in the Palestinian West Bank and attitudes toward protest behavior: Experimental findings from Germany	View Paper Details