The neoliberal development complex: hegemony and anti-systemic agency in Palestine pdf

Year: 2020

Author: Eleni Mostaklem

Supervisor:  Lena Meari

Discussion Committee: Amira Silmi & Linda Tabar

Abstract:

The study discusses the neoliberal economic system and intricately examines it as a complete system of power relations that has long been prepared since the forties of the previous century during the rise of the United States as a world power. The study claims that the neoliberal system controls people through the idea of development as a tool of hegemony in the Gramscian concept, by coercion and consent, and thus the neoliberal development complex is realized. Aiming to sustain itself to ensure central capital concentration as if in complete understanding of the Marxist representation of society, the neoliberal system plays with the contradictions between the infrastructure and superstructure to prevent the later from changing the status quo of the first, or in other words, preventing the people from the possibility of altering the existing power relations.

This research thus investigates ways in which the neoliberal development complex impacts anti-systemic agency in Palestine through the study of two active community groups; Nabd Youth Forum, and the Jalazone Men and Women Collective in the city of Ramallah. The research formulates a concept of a Development Complex as a hegemonic tool aimed at anti-systemic agency to incapacitate and/or neutralize forces rallying against Neoliberalism, and describes the spatial geography of this agency. Building on politically engaged research and ethnography from below, the research disguises the hegemonic tools used by the PA and the Israeli Occupation as proxies of the neoliberal development complex against anti-systemic groups in Palestine to ensure the interests of capital accumulation. It argues the sustainability of anti-systemic movements and their ability to challenge existing power relations in their favor.

Download