The dynamics of nonviolence in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict

The Palestinian/Israeli conflict is one of the most challenging political puzzles of the modern era. Although this is a bold assertion, the influence of this one conflict on the politics of the Middle Eastern region and on the politics of the new millennium is overwhelming. Hence, figuring out how to solve the puzzle, or more realistically, contributing to movements towards a resolution is paramount. This thesis seeks to assist in the scholarship dedicated to achieving this end. It does so from a unique perspective; The thesis contends through a normative argument that a shift in Palestinian strategy, from violence to nonviolence, will facilitate necessary steps towards a resolution of the conflict. To establish this, it argues that the Palestinian and Israeli strategies of the conflict have been mostly violent since before 1948. The results of this type of strategy are manifested by the state of the conflict today. However, a shift to nonviolent action will likely bring more positive results; Importantly, the thesis discusses what solutions and obstacles exist that enable a shift to nonviolent resistance. The principles of nonviolent discipline and human suffering that are integral to theories of nonviolent action may be the key factors in a successful campaign. However, the culture of violence between the two sides, the historical experience of the Palestinians, and certain cultural values may hinder a shift in strategy. As well, several recent factors, including the Iraq War, the War on Terror, and the death of Yassir Arafat, may provide unforeseen opportunities for an effective nonviolent campaign. Importantly, this thesis does not spell out the specifics of how this strategy should take shape. It highlights important factors that can facilitate a Palestinian shift towards a nonviolent strategy

Doctor of Philosophy

dissertationHans Morgenthau suggested that foreign aid is a mechanism to secure the national interest, and traditional powers have been using aid to pursue their interests for many years. However, some countries are pursuing foreign assistance activities outside of traditional institutions and guidelines. These nontraditional donors have also increased their aid efforts over the last decade causing many traditional donors to question their motivations. This dissertation attempts to determine why these emerging powers have increased their aid activities. It highlights how these countries use foreign assistance to secure their economic interests. This conclusion runs counter to the views of some scholars that feel aid has evolved beyond the simple pursuit of national interest and actually reflects international societal norms. A focused study of emerging powers and their aid activities provides a powerful test of these competing theoretical assumptions around interest. Importantly, emerging countries have generated significant economic success and increased political clout, so an understanding of their motivations is a key part of any future foreign policy approach for the United States and other traditional powers. Traditional aid definitions and strategies from the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) are not effective in understanding emerging power aid. This dissertation suggests a new definition and modified aid strategies that reflect emerging power interests and assistance efforts. As well, there is a gap in understanding how to classify emerging countries. This dissertation provides taxonomy with clear criteria for the emerging country group. The dissertation uses a mixed methods approach of data analysis and case studies to identify indicators of motivation and suggests a model for understanding emerging power aid. Hypotheses are developed that reflect complex interdependence theory and then tested using India, Turkey, and Brazil as case studies. The dissertation contains an analysis of primary source material for each country and uses available aid and trade data with recipients to identify a positive correlation between aid and trade. India and Turkey validate the hypotheses, while Brazil has mixed support. Overall, the results indicate that emerging powers provide foreign aid primarily for economic reasons