“LIVET SOM PALESTINSK FLYKTING I LIBANON ÄR SOM ETT DJUR I ETT ZOO” En kvalitativ undersökning av den palestinska statslösheten och medborgarskapets betydelse för den nationella identiteten

Abstract

This paper intends to examine Palestinian statelessness and the importance of citizenship in relation to national identity. Among other theories presented in this thesis, this is done mainly on the basis of theories that describe nations and national identities as social constructions and theories that describe the relationship between citizenship and national identity. The survey holds a qualitative approach, where two groups are interviewed. Stateless Palestinian refugees living in Lebanon and Palestinian refugees living in the Nordic countries, obtaining Nordic citizenship. Based on the interviewees experiences and perceptions, the results confirms that Palestinian refugees in Lebanon are discriminated against. According to all, this is based on Lebanese legislation which is discriminatory and Palestinians do not have the right to obtain Lebanese citizenship due to this. Based on existing theory, citizenship is crucial for the interviewees national identity and the absence of a Lebanese citizenship results in Palestinian refugees not being included in the Lebanese society. It appears that the Palestinian identity is strong and also constructed over time, while at the same time it is perceived to be stronger for the interviewees who now obtain a Nordic citizenship.