Palestinian Sociology: Divergent Practices and Approaches

Abstract

This article aims to examine the practices and perceptions of Palestinian sociologists in an attempt to historicize the social sciences in Palestine and to clarify divergent visions and positions both normatively and epistemologically. For methodological reasons, this article is devoted to knowledge production in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) of 1967 (the West Bank, Gaza Strip and Jerusalem), and does not cover the Palestinian diaspora. The evidence shows that there are differences in perceptions and approaches among members of the Palestinian scientific community regarding conceptual issues, a fact that reflects the diversity of cognitive tendencies and visions on one hand, and the effect of globalized international scientific groups on the other. In addition, there is a clear desire on the part of the Palestinian scientific community to be engaged with the global academy. The last part of the paper explores the question of epistemic commitment versus social commitment.