Insurgent informality: the struggle over space production between the Israeli state and its Palestinian Bedouin communities

ABSTRACT

This article addresses the political and spatial agenda of the people of informalities. It conceptualizes insurgent informality as a discursive social reality, which is based on the struggle between the state hegemonic discourse regarding informal spaces and modes of space production and the countering-hegemonic discourse of communities. Based on empirical case, this paper interrogates the discourses of Israel and the its Arab communities regarding informal spaces. The analysis suggests that the state hegemonic discourse is articulated through three interrelated logics of difference, threat and spatiality. The countering discourse challenges the hegemonic discourse through its logic of justice, recognition, and protest.

KEYWORDS:

• Insurgent planning
• informality
• space production
• Arabs
• Israel

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Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Yosef Jabareen, is a planning theorist, focuses on the nexus between urban planning theory and practices. His recent book The Risk City presents a new theory regarding contemporary city plans around the world, and the evolving risk and uncertainties.

Orwa Switat is a doctorate candidate focuses on ethnic minorities and planning rights in democratic liberal states.