The Politics of Living as a Refugee

Abstract

This chapter explores the variety of ways that Palestinian refugees have engaged in politics in and through humanitarianism. Refugees have made claims or rights to humanitarianism and for humanitarian rights. They have insisted that relief is not a matter of compassion, but an international obligation. They have argued that humanitarian rights are not just about survival but may also include recognition as political subjects. Palestinians have also engaged a politics of living precisely by surviving, not just as individuals, but also as a community. The chapter explores struggles over endurance and its meaning. It also considers contests over political values among Palestinians, looking especially at concepts like steadfastness (sumud) and arguments over normalization (tatbi‘) and resettlement (tawtin).