Trans-Territorial Sumud: Refugee Responses to Multiple Systems of Oppression in Burj Barajneh Camp

Authors

  • Author

  • Rami Rmeileh Corresponding author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31430/xuzm8467

Keywords:

Sumud (Steadfastness), Resistance, Critical Consciousness, Settler Colonialism, Palestinian Refugees

Abstract

This paper introduces a conceptual framework to examine the importance of " sumud " as a fundamental aspect of Palestinian life that challenges Euro– American theories of resilience and trauma. By emphasizing sumud as an analytical tool, it explores its transformative potential for challenging oppressive conditions faced by Palestinians beyond the Occupied Territories. The study focuses on Palestinians residing in the Bourj el–Barajneh camp, within the context of settler colonialism and the Lebanese state. It analyses sumud ’s relevance in specific temporal and spatial contexts, revealing diverse experiences and responses to oppression. The research draws on semi–structured interviews, field observations, and questionnaires conducted between 2019 and 2022. The study reveals the heterogeneity of Palestinian responses to oppression and emphasizes the importance of storytelling and collective action in challenging settler colonial and postcolonial state violence, underlining sumud’s liberatory essence.

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2023-07-01

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Received: March 2, 2023 Revised: June 5, 2023 Accepted: July 20, 2023

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Vol. 12 No. 045 (2023): Issue 045

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