| dc.description.abstract | This thesis will tackle the organization of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon and asks if this organization has been able to further the political and social goals of the Palestinians in Lebanon. The fieldwork is based upon 20 interviews with Palestinian political representatives, NGO representatives, camp residents, administrative officials and outside observers, and focuses on Burj al-Barajneh Palestinian refugee camp in Beirut. Having been in refuges since the late 1940s, Palestinian refugees in Lebanon have established political institutions to govern the camps in which they live. The thesis describes the political organization and divisions among the Palestinians in Lebanon. The political fault lines among the Palestinians in Lebanon are to a large degree similar to the ones in the occupied Palestinian territories, with the PLO on one side and Hamas, through Tahaluf, on the other. The major political difference between the two sides, are strategies for achieving the return to Palestine, and whether or not to recognize Israel. On more local issues, such as how to improve the Palestinian living conditions in Lebanon, the factions agree to a large extent, yet they fail to achieve tangible results, partly due to the split between the factions. During the period when the PLO leadership was in Lebanon, the Palestinians felt they were at center of the Palestinian struggle. They enjoyed autonomy, job opportunities were present, and the struggle to return to Palestine was fought, quite literally, in Lebanon. Today, the situation is different. The Palestinians have little influence over the right of return in peace talks with Israel, and they are marginalized in the political scene in Lebanon. Still, the political factions are divided along the same lines as before, leaving the political factions to disagree and factionalize based on issues firmly beyond their own realm of influence. I contend that the Palestinians suffer from double misrepresentation, as they are not in a position to influence their most important and desired goal, the return to their original homes in Palestine, nor are they able to improve the situation in Lebanon, over which they have considerable more influence over. | eng |