IIUM Repository

The inseparability of postcolonial studies from Palestine: reflections on Edward Said

Hasan, Md. Mahmudul (2024) The inseparability of postcolonial studies from Palestine: reflections on Edward Said. Asiatic, 18 (1). pp. 1-17. ISSN 1985-3106

[img]
Preview
PDF - Published Version
Download (313kB) | Preview

Abstract

The plight of Palestinians in Palestine and in the diaspora is a result of Israeli settler colonialism. Israel’s atrocious behaviour to colonised Palestinians is manifested through a myriad of crimes such as blockading occupied territories, demolishing homes, educational institutions, hospitals, and places of worship, restricting their movements, cutting power and communication, killing rampages, massacres to the extent of genocide, and other gruesome violations of human rights –all designed to force Palestinians off their lands and to eventually occupy them. Among academic disciplines, postcolonialism is most relevant to the discourse of Israel and Palestine and most promising to the cause of justice and the promotion of human rights in the region. In this essay, I argue that, owing to Edward Said’s pioneering role in the development of postcolonial studies, the origin of this intellectual and literary movement is traced back to Palestinian resistance to Israeli colonisation. Therefore, practitioners of this decolonial discourse are in principle obligated to address the issue of Palestinian liberation from Israeli colonial oppression. Later in this essay, I also offer a cursory glance at some remarks of Salman Rushdie on the Israel-Palestine issue and discuss a perceived need for decolonising postcolonial studies.

Item Type: Article (Journal)
Uncontrolled Keywords: Palestine and postcolonial studies, Orientalism and Palestine, Edward Said, 1967 Arab-Israeli war, Salman Rushdie, decolonising postcolonialism
Subjects: P Language and Literature > PI Oriental languages and literatures
P Language and Literature > PN Literature (General) > PN0080 Criticism
P Language and Literature > PR English literature
Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button): Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences > Department of English Language & Literature
Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences
Depositing User: Dr. Md. Mahmudul Hasan
Date Deposited: 28 Jun 2024 09:22
Last Modified: 28 Jun 2024 09:22
URI: http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/112794

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item

Downloads

Downloads per month over past year