Identity in Conflict. A critical discourse analysis of the formation of a Palestinian identity

Sammanfattning: This paper has adopted a discursive approach in examining and analyzing discursive formation of Palestinian national identity under the circumstances of conflict and through the impact and channels of politics. Through the methodology of Norman Fairclough’s critical discourse analysis and Daniel Bar-Tal’s theory about societal beliefs, two political and public speeches are analyzed. The speeches held by the two prominent Palestinian leaders, Mahmoud Abbas and Khaled Mash’al help to understand the process of constructing, maintaining and reproducing national identity. Further this contributes to the understanding of the political importance of national identity and the relation between identity, politics (power and language) and conflict dynamics. The analysis shows that national identity can be understood and used as promoter of both peace and conflict. Mostly it is not used as either or, but rather constitutes as discursive mix. This is also how it has been used in Palestinian politics. The study further reveals the importance of the discursive character of the concept of identity. This implies a hegemonic struggle which contribute to reproduce and/or transform the order of discourse, and therewith the existing power relations in the conflict. The concept of national identity has hence political importance since it offers opportunities to change