Palestine Israel: Hegemonic Peace

[Donkey]

This is an article that I read last year for a class. I actually have it again for a class this semester. I've only scanned it again thus far, but I figure that I might as well start the thread now.

This article offers a perspective on how the balance of power between Israel and Palestine has made the peace process only more difficult. It also offers some interesting points on the post-intifada Palestinian civil society and why the arrival of 'Arafat and the outside PLO kind of fubared this.

Hmm..

Unfortunately my file of "185.8 KB bytes exceeds the forum's limit of 97.7 KB for this filetype."

Is there a way that I can upload this file to a commonly viewable host?

Article attached. Thanks Dominick!

[Americano]

This is an article that I read last year for a class. I actually have it again for a class this semester. I've only scanned it again thus far, but I figure that I might as well start the thread now.

This article offers a perspective on how the balance of power between Israel and Palestine has made the peace process only more difficult. It also offers some interesting points on the post-intifada Palestinian civil society and why the arrival of 'Arafat and the outside PLO kind of fubared this.

Hmm..

Unfortunately my file of "185.8 KB bytes exceeds the forum's limit of 97.7 KB for this filetype."

Is there a way that I can upload this file to a commonly viewable host?

Article attached. Thanks Dominick!

I get 'couldn't render the page'.

[Michael]

I get 'couldn't render the page'.
Odd. I can download or view the PDF no problem. :ummm:

I'll comment on it later on when I have a chance to read and review it.

[Donkey]

I get 'couldn't render the page'.
Arg technology. If anybody is interested but can't download it, I'd be happy to email the article to you.

[Americano]

Odd. I can download or view the PDF no problem. :ummm:

I'll comment on it later on when I have a chance to read and review it.

I can download it and then open it with Adobe but have a PDF converter that queues before Adobe when trying to open it from the link - my problem.

[Michael]

This is an article that I read last year for a class. I actually have it again for a class this semester. I've only scanned it again thus far, but I figure that I might as well start the thread now.

This article offers a perspective on how the balance of power between Israel and Palestine has made the peace process only more difficult. It also offers some interesting points on the post-intifada Palestinian civil society and why the arrival of 'Arafat and the outside PLO kind of fubared this.
Yes, a very good article - thanks for sharing it. :)

I of course did my obligatory Google-search on the author before reading the article! ;)

I was especially pleased by the account of internal Palestinian politics - that level of detailed comment is hard to find. Personally, I long felt that the Israelis (and their US allies) were totally crazy for demonizing Arafat since Arafat was their best chance for getting a totally pro-Israeli deal passed.

Demonizing Arafat weakened him and empowered the 'more radicalized' elements native to the first intifada to rise in power in Palestine (represented by the comparative rise of Hamas vs the fall of Fatah in the period following the writing of the article).

Besides that, I also agree with Robinson's conception of a "hegemonic peace". The concept appears to be valid and explicable - I think the Versailles example was particularly persuasive to me since I've long made that particular argument! That one-sided treaty (which acknowledged defeat of, but unable to actually dominate Germany) turned out to be explosively dangerous to the authors.

I certainly do agree with the comment quoted in the last paragraph by the author that "sometimes violence is the necessary - if unfortunate - midwife to a better political future".

But that just dodges the question of 'hegemonic peace' - whether or not they are any good at all for anyone. The only examples given are all negative ones for both parties. The author doesn't seem to actually succeed in making the argument that 'hegemonic peace' is categorically bad thing for both parties - he kind of leaves this angle open.

So, where do you want to go with this Donkey? I certainly agree that a 'hegemonic peace' between Israel and Palestine would likely be a short one - particularly the one envisioned at Oslo. I think Arafat ultimately failed (due to corruption) and now the power is slowly drifting back to the old 'insider' faction (to use Robinson's terms) and that is fundamentally changing the nature of the game. The Palestinians aren't going to go away.

One issue that does strike me as worthy of discussion is the idea of a 'hegemonic peace' that might be beneficial to one or the other party. Have to look through history to find some examples... :ummm:

P.S. I am also curious as to the type of course this paper is on the reading list for. It is a rather contentious and contemporary topic - which is unusual for theory courses...

[Donkey]

More later I promise!


P.S. I am also curious as to the type of course this paper is on the reading list for. It is a rather contentious and contemporary topic - which is unusual for theory courses...
History 381 The Arab Israeli Conflicts.

The other one was History 384 Modern Middle East.

In such a tiny school, topic areas are hit and miss. We are fortunate enough to have a really brilliant history professor with a doctorate in Middle East studies. In the latter of those classes she had us read Orientalism by Edward Said. I can say that she's been one of my more influential professors here. I'm mostly taking the current course because I really enjoyed her teaching.

[Michael]

More later I promise!
We expect so. :)

History 381 The Arab Israeli Conflicts.

The other one was History 384 Modern Middle East.
Well that explains that!

In such a tiny school, topic areas are hit and miss. We are fortunate enough to have a really brilliant history professor with a doctorate in Middle East studies. In the latter of those classes she had us read Orientalism by Edward Said. I can say that she's been one of my more influential professors here. I'm mostly taking the current course because I really enjoyed her teaching.
Yes, there really is something to the idea that the 'best' schools really are 'better' for this reason. I got to study Hegel & Marx under a German professor who did his PhD on Hegel & Marx in Germany. I also got to study medieval history with the co-chair of the Institute for Medieval Studies, likewise my greek philosophy professor did his PhD in Athens and was a published translator of classical greek texts, plus I did some grad seminar work with Charles Taylor in political philosophy. All of these profs were major published scholars in the field and unbelievably good teachers.

(note: the best teachers are the best researcher-writers, oddly enough. Lame-ass teachers make lame-ass researchers).

[Donkey]

*wonders what Charles Taylor (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Taylor_%28Liberia%29) has to say about political philosophy*

;)

[Michael]

*wonders what Charles Taylor (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Taylor_%28Liberia%29) has to say about political philosophy*

;)
Whatever he may have to say on the topic, I'm not particularly interested.

However, this Charles Taylor (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Taylor_(philosopher)) is a very interesting and distinguished fellow whom I've had the honor of studying under. ;)