Seeking a Sustainable Solution to the Israeli–Palestinian Conflict from Judith Butler's Perspective

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Assistant Professor of Public Law at Shiraz University

2 PhD Student of Public Law, Shiraz University

3 MA Student of Public Law, Shiraz University

10.22124/wp.2025.31117.3549

Abstract

This paper aims to analyze the critical approach proposed by Judith Butler, a philosopher of post-structuralism, to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict and investigate the alternative solutions that she offers based on ethical and political concepts. In a radical critique of the concepts of "nation-state" and "Zionism", Butler considers conventional solutions, e.g., "two states" or "one state", ineffective due to their perpetuation of historical injustice, exclusion of Palestinians, and reliance on an exclusivist logic. In contrast, she proposes the concepts of "diaspora" and "cohabitation" as an alternative framework. In Butler's view, diaspora is not merely a geographical situation but an ethical stance based on the shared experience of exile and displacement of Jews and Palestinians, emphasizing the importance of life in relation to the "other." Likewise, cohabitation extends beyond physical proximity to mean the development of a shared political space based on the absolute equality of rights, mutual respect for cultural plurality, and shared responsibility for the future. Inspired by Edward Said and Hannah Arendt, Butler emphasizes the necessity of cultural and ethical "translations" between conflicting narratives and moving beyond nation-state structures.

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