DS113.6.K37

Includes bibliographical references (p. 228-252) and index

Transnational movements and discourses -- Palestinian lives and local institutions in the camps of Lebanon -- Forms of commemoration -- Contents of commemoration : narratives of heroism, suffering, and sumud -- Guerrillas and martyrs : the evolution of national 'heroes' -- Between battles and massacres : commemorating violent events -- Commemoration in the occupied Palestinian territories

The history of the Palestinians over the last half century has been one of turmoil, a people living under occupation or exiled from their homeland. Theirs has been at times a tragic story, but also one of resistance, heroism and nationalist aspiration. Laleh Khalili's book is based on her experiences in the Lebanese refugee camps, where commemorations of key moments in the history of the struggle have helped forge a sense of nationhood. She also observes how, as discourses of liberation have evolved in recent years within the international community, there has been a shift in the representation of Palestinian nationalism from the heroic to the tragic mode. This trend is exemplified through the elevation of martyrs to iconic figures in the Palestinian collective memory. This book will appeal to students and scholars of the Middle East, and to those interested in the politics of nationalism, commemoration and conflict.