Between the Palestinian National Imagination and the Formation of Reality: The Sheikh Jarrah Uprising

This research stems from the movement of Palestinian society within the fragmentation in which Palestinians live. The research focuses on the transformations and shifts in Palestinian society from a state of "factions" to a "collectivity," and vice versa, seeking to understand this movement within the framework of the national imagination. The study specifically examines the social movement that emerged in Sheikh Jarrah Uprising in 2021, claiming it as a pivotal historical moment concerning the Palestinian national imagination, with comparisons to the movement and imagination after October 7. The main question is: How did the Palestinian national social imagination transform during the 2021 Uprising of Dignity?
This research adopts a qualitative methodology by conducting in-depth interviews with activists during the Sheikh Jarrah Uprising across all segments of Palestinian society, including the diaspora, with 3-4 interviews for each region. In addition to discourse analysis is used to examine and analyise the mainstream posts during the uprising on social media concerning liberation.

The research stems from a critique of Durkheim's distinction between mechanical solidarity in underdeveloped societies and organic solidarity in developed societies, aiming to critique this distinction within the Palestinian context, highlighting the impact of colonial and neoliberal policies in shifting cooperation from collective to individual. The research moves from Durkheim to engage with Benedict Anderson’s concept of imagined communities, illustrating how the community is formed as a deep comradeship that may lead the individual to sacrifice for its cause. This research understands imagination as a vital system that links humans to their environment through symbolism and social emotions, shaping perceptions of the present and future through symbols derived from memory and collective imagination, reflected in political and cultural expressions. This reseacrh aims to understand the creation of a comprehensive imagination that challenges this fragmentation and brings historical Palestine to life.