The Palestinian Legislative Council elections have reignited the long-standing debate over the merits of participation versus boycott. The announcement of a broad coalition uniting Hamas and Dahlan, and Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s historical decision to take part in the elections, have also sparked reactions ranging from welcome to surprise to condemnation. So, do these elections represent an opportunity or a trap? What is the purpose of elections? Contrary to popular belief, elections are not a
The Palestinian Legislative Council elections have reignited the long-standing debate over the merits of participation versus boycott. The announcement of a broad coalition uniting Hamas and Dahlan, and Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s historical decision to take part in the elections, have also sparked reactions ranging from welcome to surprise to condemnation. So, do these elections represent an opportunity or a trap? What is the purpose of elections? Contrary to popular belief, elections are not a tool for change but for consolidation of a political order. Elections reflect the will of society but do not affect the material and cultural context that shapes that will. For example, the decisions made by the Ramallah Authority—such as employing large numbers of Palestinians and their […]
