Abstract
The logic of introducing liberal market mechanisms to areas of conflict with a view of creating more peaceful relations between countries is controversial. While proponents of such mechanisms view the establishment of capitalist market structures as a necessity to sustain peaceful relations, others argue that such marketisation is an external imposition of structures that reduce opportunities for indigenous development.
Since the mid-1990s – the signing of the Oslo Accords – such ‘capitalist peace’ in the occupied Palestinian territory has brought with it the rise of consumer culture previously unknown to many Palestinians. “Shopping at ‘Capitalist Peace’” is an art piece that makes visible voices of ordinary Palestinians living in the West Bank, 20 years on. It emerges from a 6-week study conducted in the West Bank in May/June 2015 that sought to explore Palestinians' participation in consumer resistance amidst market liberalisation. The marketisation of the Palestinian economy, and the neoliberal restructuring of Palestinian society, has been seen as challenging the Palestinian identity project and as the pacification of Palestinians through consumption. This, as a consequence, has fractured discourses on national and economic sovereignty.
“Shopping at ‘Capitalist Peace’” shows the varied experiences of marketisation by Palestinians and the subsequent rise of consumer culture in the oPt. It further speaks to the role of economic activism within the Palestinian discourses on Palestinian sovereignty. The artpiece was created using mixed media (cardboard, paper, paint, charcoal, and digital art prints) to resemble a supermarket shelf. The different products – often representing household staples – were chosen because they were all mentioned by research participants. Packaging emulates the bright and bold style of early 1950s American advertising, making a link to the origins and stereotypes of consumer culture. We believe the positive embrace of consumer culture prevalent in 1950s USA reflects the opinions of proponents of capitalist peacebuilding. On the back of the boxes, we have placed selected reflections from research participants on their experience of consumer culture and consumer resistance. These bring insight into the lived experiences, practices, and attitudes of Palestinians in this context.
Since the mid-1990s – the signing of the Oslo Accords – such ‘capitalist peace’ in the occupied Palestinian territory has brought with it the rise of consumer culture previously unknown to many Palestinians. “Shopping at ‘Capitalist Peace’” is an art piece that makes visible voices of ordinary Palestinians living in the West Bank, 20 years on. It emerges from a 6-week study conducted in the West Bank in May/June 2015 that sought to explore Palestinians' participation in consumer resistance amidst market liberalisation. The marketisation of the Palestinian economy, and the neoliberal restructuring of Palestinian society, has been seen as challenging the Palestinian identity project and as the pacification of Palestinians through consumption. This, as a consequence, has fractured discourses on national and economic sovereignty.
“Shopping at ‘Capitalist Peace’” shows the varied experiences of marketisation by Palestinians and the subsequent rise of consumer culture in the oPt. It further speaks to the role of economic activism within the Palestinian discourses on Palestinian sovereignty. The artpiece was created using mixed media (cardboard, paper, paint, charcoal, and digital art prints) to resemble a supermarket shelf. The different products – often representing household staples – were chosen because they were all mentioned by research participants. Packaging emulates the bright and bold style of early 1950s American advertising, making a link to the origins and stereotypes of consumer culture. We believe the positive embrace of consumer culture prevalent in 1950s USA reflects the opinions of proponents of capitalist peacebuilding. On the back of the boxes, we have placed selected reflections from research participants on their experience of consumer culture and consumer resistance. These bring insight into the lived experiences, practices, and attitudes of Palestinians in this context.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Publication status | Published - 2016 |