Bourdieu’nun Kavramsal Çerçevesinden Hareketle Filistin’de Direnişin Analizi
The Analysis of Resistance in Palestine Through Bourdieu’s Conceptual Framework

Summary/Abstract: This article uses Pierre Bourdieu’s sociological concepts to frame the Israel’s occupation of Palestine both as a political and military struggle and as a social, cultural, and symbolic arena. The historical distortions of the occupation, power asymmetries, and the transformative potential of Palestinian resistance are illuminated by Bourdieu’s concepts of field, capital, habitus, symbolic violence, and doxa. The resistance developed by Palestinians through cultural and social capital in the face of Israel’s military and economic superiority is highlighted. Palestine has been the center of different civilizations and religions throughout its history. However, Zionist settlement beginning with the British Mandate and the 1947 UN Partition Plan demonstrate that external powers have shaped Palestine’s destiny. The 1948 Nakba, which resulted in the expulsion of over 700,000 Palestinians and the destruction of hundreds of villages, deeply wounded the collective identity of Palestine. The 1967 war brought the occupation of Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem, condemning Palestinians to live under military rule. The Oslo Accords are seen as an illusion, presented as a promise of peace but increasing dependence on international aid. Ultimately, the occupation is defined not as a simple land dispute but as a colonial project. In response to this project, intifadas, boycotts and symbolic actions have united the Palestinian resistance around a national identity. The article evaluates similarities and differences by adapting Bourdieu’s fieldwork and observations in Algeria to Palestine. Israel’s land seizures, indebtedness and ethnic cleansing policies are presented as symbolic violence. Based on this symbolic violence and field theory, the article examines the Palestinians struggle to preserve their identity through cultural productions such as poetry and village histories in the face of Israel’s economic, political and military superiority built through international diplomatic ties. It is thought that this struggle has gained global solidarity through boycott movements and has the potential to transform cultural capital into diplomatic influence. Accordingly, the strong resistance habitus of Palestinians locally and the impact of actions such as boycotts globally open the door to transformation and social reproduction. In conclusion, within Bourdieu’s framework, the Palestinian resistance is shown to be a universal call for justice that challenges colonial structures. Thus, the article invites us to explore how the Palestinian issue, especially from 2023 to the present, can evolve into an environment of peace and tranquility.

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