Anthropological perspectives on Peace and Conflict Studies Research Paper

Anthropological perspectives on Peace and Conflict Studies - Research Paper Example It explores how people of diverse appearance, different cultures and mutually incomprehensible languages live together peacefully. This paper will give an analysis of the possible causes of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict as well as solutions for the conflict from anthropological point of view. Introduction The conflict between Palestinians and Israelis is a struggle that has been going on since the mid of the 20th century. Within both Palestinian and Israeli societies, this conflict has generated a wide range of opinions and views. This underscores the deep divisions existing between Palestinians and Israelis and also within either society. This conflict has caused a high level of violence for almost the whole duration. Paramilitary groups, regular armies, terror cells and individuals have been conducting fights. Besides the military, casualties have also come from civilian population with a lot of fatalities on both sides. It has been noted that prominent global actors have engage d themselves in the conflict (Gelvin 15). Anthropology gives a scientific basis for handling crucial dilemma in today’s world. It explores how people of diverse appearance, different cultures and mutually incomprehensible languages live together peacefully. Anthropology calls for no naturalization of all human constructions and recognition of culture’s arbitrariness including arbitrariness of power (Lewellen 17). This paper will give an analysis of the possible causes of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict as well as solutions for the conflict from anthropological point of view. Causes of Israeli-Palestinian Conflict It has often been said that the conflict between Palestinians and Israelis is about land. This claim is designed to counter the usual misconception suggesting that the Israelis and Palestinians have a historical clash that dates back to hundreds of years as a result of inherent cultural and religious contempt for each other. The lands claims play a vital role in both sides of animosities, but it fails to give the full story (Harms 60). The more complex and more accurate explanation for this conflict is that it is about the emerging relationship between two groups of people living in the same area, particularly regarding the emergence of firstly, Jewish nationalism (Zionism) and secondly, Palestinian nationalism, which occurred between the late 19th century and early 20th century. The definitions and development of both nationalisms are the basis of the conflict. The emergence of Zionism was not in reaction to Muslims, Palestinians or Arabs, but in response to perceived and real anti-Semitism in Europe and Russia. Although the decision to make Israel a Zionist state location was founded on religious factors, this was largely untrue regarding the decision to establish a Zionist state. When Zionists came to Israel, they did not intend to evict the native population although they were oblivious to it to a great extent. The Zionist movement encouraged immigration to Israel using the slogan, "A land without a people for a people without a land." On reaching Israel, they sought land and believed this maxim, and in this way, they had already sowed the seed of the conflict. Mostly, Zionist settlers showed no animosity against the indigenous population. They never removed Palestinians from their land using force, but they had a simple economic strategy of purchasing land from Arab tribes that represented the indigenous Palestinian inhabitants. This resulted into the Palestinians identifying