The impetus of conflict on the reproduction of national identity among exiled Palestinians Evidence from a fieldwork in Syria

This paper discusses the reproduction of Palestinian nation-alism among exiled Palestinians in Syria. Through a descrip-tion of micro-level processes by which nationalism is repro-duced, it is shown how important conflict and political struggles are in the formation of national identity and the di-rections it takes; also among immigrants who do not them-selves live in the midst of the conflict. The paper argues that children should not be neglected in studies of nationalism. Memories of conflict and forced migration are found impor-tant in socialising the children, who are considered impor-tant co-actors in the process of preserving Palestinian na-tionalism in exile.