Islam, nationalism, and the formation of Palestinian national identity

The following thesis questions whether Islam can serve as the cornerstone of nationalist identity and under what circumstances this could occur. Islam is eternal and all encompassing while nationalism is time-bound and particularistic. Yet, despite their doctrinal irreconcilability, the convergence of Islamic resurgent and nationalist ideologies has created one of the most powerful modern ideologies and a potential alternative path to modernity. Chapter one delineates the rise of the Islamic resurgence as a foundation for challenging established perspectives on Islamism, modernity and the Islamic-nationalist relationship. Chapter two explores the key terms Islam and nationalism, in light of their individual limitations and the potential power of their confluence. Chapters three and four outline the development of Palestinian national identity, and the shifting role of Islam. In conclusion Chapter five summarizes the research findings in support of the potential for and power of religion to serve as the basis of nationalist identity.