Manifestations of Identity: The Lived Reality of Palestinian Refugees in Lebanon

Co-published with the Institut francais du Proche-Orient (IFPO). 

Palestinian Refugees in Lebanon are often discussed in sensationalist or objectified terms in the context of various crises. The essays collected in this volume attempt to look beyond the crises, undertaking to examine the Lived reality of Palestinians in Lebanon and the variety of ways in which they manifest their Palestinian identity. How do they perceive themselves? What forms does their Palestinian identity take and in what ways has it been influenced by their host environment? How do their practices of Palestinian-ness affect or interact with their surroundings? How has their status in Lebanon changed in the six decades since their displacement by Israel? In what ways are they rendered invisible by the Lebanese authorities and Lebanese society at Large? How is this invisibility related to the status of other Palestinian communities both inside and outside Palestine?  How do they view the prospect of their return to Palestine? These essays discuss numerous aspects of Palestinian life in Lebanon, from the urbanization of the refugee camps to the self-perception of young people. They also consider various forms of Palestinian identity-making, from marriage to rap music.

Contributors: Muhammad Ali Khalidi and Diane Riskedahl, Jihane Sfeir, Rima Afifi and Maya El Shareef, Sari Hanafi, Mohamed Kamel Dorai, Sylvain Perdigon, Nicolas Puig, Laleh Khalili.