Paper short abstract:

This paper analyses the life conditions and experiences of Palestinians in Lebanon, and more specifically those living in refugee camps. It aims to understand how Palestinians in camps navigate precariousness, and how they strategize their present and future in uncertain and constraint contexts.

Paper long abstract:

This paper will analyze the life conditions and experiences of Palestinians in Lebanon, and more specifically those living in refugee camps. The history of Palestinians in Lebanon is that of an experienced and transmitted violence, precariousness and uncertainty. Since their forced exile from historical Palestine in 1948, Palestinians have gone through other political violence, such as during the Lebanese Civil war (1975-1990) that caused huge human and material damage and massive displacements, especially in camps. Moreover, camps suffer today from very bad material conditions and lack of basic services (water, electricity…). Furthermore, Palestinian refugees in Lebanon are deprived of several fundamental rights, in terms of employment, social security, education or ownership.

This paper aims to understand how Palestinians in camps navigate precariousness, and how they strategize their present and future in uncertain and constraint contexts. We will see how precariousness and discrimination have produced a narrative in people's everyday life, and how they affect people's aspirations and the way they perceive and conceive their future.

The study is based on an extensive ethnographic fieldwork in Palestinian camps in Lebanon and on an ongoing research on the trajectories of young people in Lebanon, including in particular Palestinians, from education into employment.