The Politics of Dispossession

In this collection of thirty-nine essays--which have appeared over the past twenty-five years in a wide range of publications--Said explores the issues behind the Palestinian struggle for statehood.  He provides a detailed context for understanding the recent autonomy agreement between the P.L.O. and Israel; critically assesses of United States policy toward the Palestinians; evaluates the argument for a two-state solution; documents the cultural and historical background to the relationships between the Arab Islamic world and the West, and the role of intellectuals in the struggle; and delineates the repercussions of the Gulf War.

"The most eloquent and visible voice of the Palestinian struggle in America.... [Said's] combination of flamboyant style and erudite radicalism, honesty and advocacy...makes The Politics of Dispossession necessary and informative for anyone interested in the complexities of the Palestinian question."--The San Francisco Chronicle

"Solidly imbued with historical context and geopolitical conjecture...fresh, unpredictable, personal and incorruptible writing."--The Boston Globe

"As this fascinating collection of essays confirms, no other liberation movement has had such a passionate, coherent, and objective voice as that given by Edward Said to the Palestinian people.  Especially at this time of alleged transition in Israeli-Palestinian relations, Said's extraordinary moral imagination, political range, and cultural awareness provide a unique perspective. Anyone who claims concern with the past, present, and future fate of the Palestinian struggle needs to read and ponder Said's brilliantly sustained assessments."--Richard Falk, on The Politics of Dispossession