Browsing by Author "Gelotte, Sara"

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National Identities among Israelis and Palestinians: A discourse analysis of how representatives for Israeli and Palestinian NGOs relate to national identities, in relation to the conflict between them and the settlement thereof
(2016-07-08) Gelotte, Sara; University of Gothenburg/School of Global Studies; Göteborgs universitet/Institutionen för globala studier
The world is amidst accelerating processes of globalization increasingly emphasizing univer-sal human rights and common human-ness. Parallel, nationalistic movements and values grow stronger. Universal and nationalistic values are expressed simultaneously in the peace process between Israelis and Palestinians. On the basis of semi-structured interviews, this study explores how representatives from Israeli and Palestinian non-governmental organizations working for a settlement between Israelis and Palestinians, relate to national identity among Israelis and Palestinians, in relation to discourses of nationalism and universalism, in the context of the conflict between them, and the settlement thereof. This is done by a discourse analysis of how national identity is discursively constructed among the respondents, and what political conse-quences this entails, in relation to a settlement. The narratives and identities of the respondents are characterized by both nationalistic and universal values. One discourse highlights national identity, correlating with the national struggle of the two states solution. Othering is strongly prevalent, particularly towards set-tlers. Another discourse underlines universal human rights and common human-ness, which politically translates into the civil rights struggle of the one state solution. Israelis and Palestinians have distinct national identities. However, there is a need for a common identity able to embrace the common human-ness, while simultaneously nursing the specific Israeli and Palestinian identities. Israeli Palestinians could be seen as forerunners in this process as many of them already have dual identities, transgressing the strict lines of the national identities expressed in nationalistic discourses.
Unga identiteter i förändringens Portugal: En postkolonial analys av unga, universitetsutbildade portugisers identitet i relation till de forna kolonierna och de förändrade relationerna till dessa länder
(2013-09-13) Gelotte, Sara; University of Gothenburg/School of Global Studies; Göteborgs universitet/Institutionen för globala studier
A radical change is taking place in the world today: some former colonies are now booming economically while several former colonizers are suffering from economic crisis. Postcolonial theory states that old structures from the colonization are keeping the South poor and the North rich. Today there’s a shift in these structures as former colonizers Spain and Portugal are forced to ask for economical support from their former colonies. The colonial discourse separated white from black and depicted the population in the colonies as the absolute antithesis of the Europeans. In Portugal circulated also lusotropicalism, an ideology that claimed Portugal as absolutely free of racism, a statement with great influence in the postcolonial Portugal. On the basis of semi-structured focus groups I will in this paper do a discourse analysis of young, university educated Portuguese identity/ies in relation to the former colonies and the changing relations to these countries. This will be done by investigating whether the Portuguese self-image and the view of the colonized and the colonies seem to be changing as a result of the changing relations, and by analyzing to what extent colonial and lusotropicalistic discourses are reflected in the respondent’s narratives of the colonies and its inhabitants. Even though young Portuguese of today grow up after decolonization, they tend to repeat the lusotropicalistic and the colonial discourse. Yet, despite this one can see a new discourse taking form around the crisis and the changing relations between Portugal and the former colonies. Opposite to the colonial discourse this discourse is forming an identity as rather inferior and insecure as Brazil is seen as the biggest power in the lusophone world whilst Portugal’s influence is lessening by the day. Still, the connection between Portugal and its former colonies is growing stronger today in the same pace as the identification with Europe decreases for the young Portuguese in the study. A lusofication of the identity is taking place as a consequence of Portugal’s troubles in the Eurozone and the rise of the colonies, as Portugal chooses to tie itself harder to the former colonies when their position and influence in the EU is decreasing.