| Abstract | This project has the objective of studying the drivers behind and motivations and goals of ethnonationalist separatist groups. Additionally, this project aims to offer an understanding of the evolution of ethnonationalist separatist groups from subsections of distinct and marginalized ethnic groups within a pluralistic, democratic society; to a paramilitary or terrorist organization; to a representative and capable political group which can eventually negotiate an end to the inter-societal violence and negotiate the creation of a peace and a nation-state; to, ultimately, a government for the new nation-state. This project looks at the theories of alterity, Orientalism, statehood and self-determination, fundamental struggles for resources and economic power, and irridentism to explain the impetus behind ethnonationalist separatist groups. This project examines the group Hamas as an ethnonationalist separatist group which seeks sovereignty and self-determined nation-statehood for the Palestinian nation. This study hypothesizes that ethnonationalist separatist groups emerge within a democratic society when the minority ethnic group and the group in power face significant socio-economic and cultural differences, and that the ethnonationalist separatist group initially employs violent means to gain recognition. After a violent inter-societal conflict between the ethnonationalist group and the group in power ensues, the ethnonationalist separatist group forms a political party, which can operate as a governing body for the minority group and which can then negotiate and compromise peace and self-determination with the opposing government. Hamas has followed the expected evolution up through the final stage of negotiating a permanent treaty, a lack of success also attributable to Israel's and the international community's consideration of Hamas as nothing more than a terrorist organization which has illegitimately seized control in parts of the Palestinian territories, and their subsequent behavior towards Hamas. |
