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Confronting an Empire, Constructing a Nation
Library of Middle East History v. 10
Synopsis
Palestinian Arab nationalism is often portrayed as an elite ideology that did not gain popular appeal until after 1948. In this groundbreaking book, Weldon C. Matthews reexamines the rise of nationalism in Palestinian politics, using a wide range of sources. He finds that the new generation of Arab nationalists which emerged in the 1920s sought to construct an inclusive public sphere around the idea of the nation. Through schools, athletic clubs, newspapers and public rallies, the nationalists took their vision to the grassroots of Palestinian society. Advocating a nationalist identity, Matthews argues, was inextricably interlinked with resistance to British imperialism. The British sought to promote factionalism and sectarianism, and embracing an inclusive nationalist ideology was a powerful way of asserting independence. Matthews shows how the symbols of nationalist identity became potent weapons in a power struggle between British officials, Palestinian politicians, and nationalist activists throughout the Mandate period.
Matthews's original and incisive book provides the reader with a deeper understanding of Palestinian political development and a more nuanced conception of the phenomenon of nationalism.
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What Reviewers Are Saying
'A MAJOR WORK ON THE MODERN HISTORY OF PALESTINE, THAT ELUCIDATES THE BACKGROUND TO THE GREAT 1936-39 REVOLT, AND HELPS TO EXPLAIN THE FAILURES OF THAT COUNTRY'S ARAB ELITE. IT WILL BE AN INDISPENSABLE REFERENCE FOR ALL INTERESTED IN THESE TOPICS.' -PROFESSOR RASHID KHALIDI, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY 'A VALUABLE CONTRIBUTION TO OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE PERIOD.' -DR GLEN RANGWALA, UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE "An empirically rich monograph which undoubtedly fills a gap" - Dr Emma Murphy, University of Durham "A well-structured, articulate and thoroughly developed text...containing enough material that is new to be a valuable contribution to our understanding of that period" - Dr Glen Rangwala, University of CambridgeTRIBUNE BOOKSWeldon Matthews...has written a fascinating book on the growth of nationalism in 1930s Palestine.- Will Podmore