Palestinian youth social movement’s protesters

Abstract

This chapter examines the symbolic interactions between Palestinian social and political movements and Arab protest movements. It also seeks to show the influence of the Arab revolts on the reconfiguration of social movements in the west bank, the Gaza strip, and their transnational connection. Likewise it examines political and social issues, different modes of mobilization, and symbolic practices by Palestinian activists. While some might argue that these youth groups’ views are the result of old parties and ideologies of political organizations, their actions, this study demonstrates, are independent of any direct political affiliation with specific parties, while they maintain a presence within the resistance movement. The chapter deals primarily with the Palestinian youth movement, whether Islamist or leftist, providing a new political map in the form of new political movements and their associations, especially as a result of the mobilization of 2011 and 2012. It begins with a brief historical analysis of the role these movements played in Palestinian society, examining first the conditions of their emergence and then their sociological context It then explores the dominant groups of actors within these organizations, and how they behaved. In doing so, it shows the novel modes of communication used, especially in new virtual media, to influence public opinion. Finally, the author explores the literature produced by these movements, including leaflets and flyers, which Elucidates their political aims, visions, and demands. The information presented here is based on direct observation or testimonies of participants in the new movements. The author relies on interviews with activists, as well as on direct observations.