Periodic Reporting for period 1 - PYC (Palestinian youth at the crossroad: comparative perspectives on Palestinian transnational youth politics)
Reporting period: 2023-07-15 to 2025-07-14
Palestinian Youth at the Crossroads (PYC) is an interdisciplinary project that explores the political potential of contemporary Palestinian transnational youth activism in the United States and Europe. It compares student political engagement namely by examining the formation and development of the General Union of Palestinian Students (GUPS) during what is regarded as the “golden age” of the Palestinian revolution (1960s-1970s) with contemporary initiatives, efforts and strategies of mobilization amongst Palestinian youth in shatat (Diaspora).
The goal of this project is to study the political, social and cultural architecture of transnational Palestinian youth movements by analyzing their strategies of mobilization, political vision and engagement with domestic and international actors in two different phases of Palestinian political history. The specific objectives are:
a) To map the evolution of transnational Palestinian youth movements. PYC will provide an in-depth account of youth political initiatives and their involvement in the national struggle by analyzing youth modus operandi, narratives and political frameworks in a comparative perspective.
b) To advance an analytical approach to transnational and cross-generational youth politics in colonial contexts
The goal of this project is to study the political, social and cultural architecture of transnational Palestinian youth movements by analyzing their strategies of mobilization, political vision and engagement with domestic and international actors in two different phases of Palestinian political history. The specific objectives are:
a) To map the evolution of transnational Palestinian youth movements. PYC will provide an in-depth account of youth political initiatives and their involvement in the national struggle by analyzing youth modus operandi, narratives and political frameworks in a comparative perspective.
b) To advance an analytical approach to transnational and cross-generational youth politics in colonial contexts
Project Results and Progress
The research has generated a comprehensive body of contemporary data on Palestinian youth activism in the U.S. and Europe, situating these findings within a longer historical trajectory of student and diaspora politics. It has captured both established organizations and newly formed groups, documenting their strategies, discourses, and transnational connections. This expanding dataset is now feeding into the construction of an analytical framework that integrates political science, anthropology, history, and international relations. The comparative perspective across contexts and generations is already yielding innovative insights into how Palestinian youth navigate questions of identity, representation, and political strategy in conditions of exile and ongoing colonial violence.
Deliverables and Milestones
• Ethical compliance has been rigorously ensured through the Ethics Report (28 months), which documents the adaptations made to protect participants in light of heightened risks.
• Data governance has been secured through the updated Data Management Plan (Version 2), aligning with FAIR principles while respecting the sensitivity of the research context.
• Fieldwork milestones have been reached on schedule, with extensive ethnographic engagement across multiple sites in the U.S. and Europe.
• Training and mentorship milestones have been achieved, including participation in Arabic language courses, Suad Joseph Labs, and reading groups with Palestinian scholars in the UC system. Regular supervision ensured continuous methodological and theoretical refinement.
The research has generated a comprehensive body of contemporary data on Palestinian youth activism in the U.S. and Europe, situating these findings within a longer historical trajectory of student and diaspora politics. It has captured both established organizations and newly formed groups, documenting their strategies, discourses, and transnational connections. This expanding dataset is now feeding into the construction of an analytical framework that integrates political science, anthropology, history, and international relations. The comparative perspective across contexts and generations is already yielding innovative insights into how Palestinian youth navigate questions of identity, representation, and political strategy in conditions of exile and ongoing colonial violence.
Deliverables and Milestones
• Ethical compliance has been rigorously ensured through the Ethics Report (28 months), which documents the adaptations made to protect participants in light of heightened risks.
• Data governance has been secured through the updated Data Management Plan (Version 2), aligning with FAIR principles while respecting the sensitivity of the research context.
• Fieldwork milestones have been reached on schedule, with extensive ethnographic engagement across multiple sites in the U.S. and Europe.
• Training and mentorship milestones have been achieved, including participation in Arabic language courses, Suad Joseph Labs, and reading groups with Palestinian scholars in the UC system. Regular supervision ensured continuous methodological and theoretical refinement.
The project has advanced scientific knowledge on transnational and cross-generational Palestinian youth activism in ways not previously addressed in the literature. By combining ethnographic methods, oral history, and the collection of contemporary materials, the fellowship is producing a comprehensive, empirically grounded account of youth mobilization across the U.S. and Europe.
The impact of the research has been amplified by the events following October 7, 2023, which generated a new global solidarity movement and placed Palestinian youth activism at the center of international debates. The fellow’s expertise has enabled rapid and rigorous documentation of this shift, producing an expanded dataset and methodological reflections that will inform future research on political activism in contexts of crisis.
At the methodological level, the project has generated innovative reflections on ethics and participation in politically sensitive contexts, highlighting the role of the researcher as both observer and participant, and elaborating new frameworks for balancing data collection with dissemination. These insights contribute not only to Middle East and diaspora studies, but also to the broader fields of anthropology, political science, and international relations.
The impact of the research has been amplified by the events following October 7, 2023, which generated a new global solidarity movement and placed Palestinian youth activism at the center of international debates. The fellow’s expertise has enabled rapid and rigorous documentation of this shift, producing an expanded dataset and methodological reflections that will inform future research on political activism in contexts of crisis.
At the methodological level, the project has generated innovative reflections on ethics and participation in politically sensitive contexts, highlighting the role of the researcher as both observer and participant, and elaborating new frameworks for balancing data collection with dissemination. These insights contribute not only to Middle East and diaspora studies, but also to the broader fields of anthropology, political science, and international relations.