Quinn P. Coffey PhD thesis

235 Pages·2016·8.63 MB·English

THE POLITICAL, COMMUNAL AND RELIGIOUS
DYNAMICS OF PALESTINIAN CHRISTIAN IDENTITY:
THE EASTERN ORTHODOX AND LATIN CATHOLICS IN
THE WEST BANK UNTIL 2014
Quinn Patrick Coffey

A Thesis Submitted for the Degree of PhD
at the
University of St Andrews

2016
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The Political, Communal and Religious Dynamics of Palestinian Christian
Identity:
The Eastern Orthodox and Latin Catholics in the West Bank Until 2014

Quinn Patrick Coffey

A Thesis Submitted for the Degree of PhD
At the
University of St Andrews

2 March 2016
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Abstract:

Despite the increasingly common situation of statelessness in the contemporary Middle East, a
majority of the theoretical tools used to study nationalism are contingent upon the existence of a
sovereign state. As such, they are unable to fully explain the mechanisms of national identity,
political participation, and integration in non-institutional contexts, where other social identities
continue to play a significant political role. In these contexts, the position of demographic
minorities in society is significant, as actors with the most popular support – majorities -- tend to
have the strongest impact on the shape of the political field. This thesis demonstrates what we can
learn from studying the mechanisms of nationalism and political participation for one such minority
group, the Palestinian Christians, particularly with regards to how national identity fails or succeeds
in instilling attachment to the state and society.

This is accomplished by applying the theoretical framework of social identity theory to empirical
field research conducted in the West Bank in 2014, combined with an analysis of election and survey
data. It is argued that the level of attachment individuals feel towards the “state” or confessional
communities is dependent on the psychological or material utility gained from group membership.
If individuals feel alienated from the national identity, they are more likely to identify with their
confessional community. If they are alienated from both, then they are far likelier to emigrate.
Additionally, I suggest that the way in which national identity is negotiated in a stateless context is
important to future state building efforts, as previous attempts to integrate national minorities into
the political system through, e.g., devolved parliaments and quotas, have failed to instil a universal
sense of the nation.

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Acknowledgments:

This endeavour would not have been possible without the support of a number of incredibly kind
and patient people. Firstly, my supervisor, Dr. Fiona McCallum, has been a tremendously helpful
guide throughout this process; her expertise and advice have been instrumental in making this
happen. My second supervisor, Professor Anthony Lang, was also an inspiring and positive force
throughout.

I must also thank the Russell Trust for their generous financial support of my field research. Many
people and organisations in Palestine have contributed to this study through face-to-face interviews
and their hospitality. For reasons of anonymity, it would be impossible to name them all here. But I
can extend a special thanks to the Tantur Ecumenical Institute in Jerusalem, the Sabeel Ecumenical
Liberation Theology Centre in Jerusalem, the Bethlehem Bible College, Bethlehem and Birzeit
Universities, the Latin Seminary in Beit Jala, the YMCA of Beit Sahour, Holy Land Trust, and the
Diyar Consortium. I must also extend a special thanks to the Bethlehem Iconography School and
its director Ian Knowles. I wish the school and its wonderfully talented students all the best and
thank them for their friendship and generosity.

Finally, I need to thank my friends and family for their support throughout the project. I am
particularly grateful to my partner Annabel, who has gracefully put up with four years of the PhD
lifestyle, and without whom this would have not been possible.

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Abbreviations:

CRO Church Related Organisation
DFLP Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine
FIDA Palestinian Democratic Union
IDF Israeli Defence Force
MoLG Ministry of Local Government
MP Member of Parliament
NCCOP National Coalition of Christian Organisations in Palestine
NGO Non-Governmental Organisation
NLL National Liberation League
PA (PNA) Palestinian (National) Authority
PCBS Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics
PCP Palestinian Community Party
PCPSR Palestinian Centre for Policy and Survey Research
PFLP Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine
PLC Palestinian Legislative Council
PLO Palestinian Liberation Organisation
PPP Palestinian People's Party
UN United Nations

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Contents:

Chapter 1: Introduction 9
Social identity and state formation: 10
Approaches to the study of identity and politics in the Middle East 12
Key Definitions 19
Methodology and Plan of Study 21
Chapter 2: Identity Choice and Social and Political Action 28
Locating Identity 28
Personal and Social Identity 32
Identity Choice 35
Group Pride 35
Utility 37
Defensiveness 39
Demographic Decline 39
Perceived Social Status 40
External Factors 41
Conclusion 42
Chapter 3: Nation, State, and Statelessness in the Middle East 44
Nationalism 46
Imagined Communities 50
Nation and State 51
The Role of Language 52
The Ethnic Origins of Nations 55
Ethnic and Territorial Nationalism 59
The Development of Middle Eastern States 61
Legitimacy and Authority 66
Statelessness 69
Secularism and Post-Colonialism 71
Conclusion 74
Chapter 4: Contextualising Rum Orthodox and Latin History in the Holy Land 76
Early Social Dynamics 79
Arab Conquests 80
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The Origins of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem 82
Ottoman Period 82
Rum Orthodox Community 82
Greek Nationalism 87
Arab Nationalism and Russian Interests 88
Tanzimat Reforms 91
Latin Community 93
Re-establishment of the Latin Patriarchate 95
Local or Missionary Church? 96
The British Mandate 97
Rum Orthodox Community 97
Latin Community 100
Jordanian and Israeli Rule 101
Rum Orthodox Community 101
Latin Community 103
The First Intifada 105
Rum Orthodox Community 105
Latin Community 106
Oslo Period 107
Rum Orthodox Community 107
Latin Community 107
Contemporary Context 108
Rum Orthodox Community 108
Latin Community 109
Conclusion 111
Chapter Five: Navigating Communal and Political Identities 112
Communal identity in the Palestinian Christian Communities 113
Rum Orthodox Community 113
Latin Community 118
Contextualising the faith: liturgical issues 121
Political Identity 123
Relationship with Arabism 125
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