Contested Spaces – Methodologies in Spatial Research in East Jerusalem

This course focuses on the urban spaces of East Jerusalem as it has evolved from its annexation in 1967 to the present day, with particular emphasis on its transformation since the construction of the Separation Barrier in early 2000s. We will examine Israeli policies toward East Jerusalem and how these policies affect the daily lives of the city’s Palestinian residents, as well as the relations between Jewish and Palestinian populations. The course aims to provide students with an in-depth understanding of the unique urban complexities of East Jerusalem, through exposure to a wide range of issues related to spatial planning and urban design, as well as to related aspects that shape everyday life in the city, such as transportation, education, healthcare, and more. These topics will be presented by expert guest lectures delivered, most of whom are East Jerusalemites themselves.

The course is based on the premise that the urban space of East Jerusalem is a product of the social, economic, and political dynamics that characterize the relationship between the Israeli authorities and the city’s Palestinian residents, as well as the relations among the different ethno-national groups that share the urban space. These relationships are not static but rather dynamic and continuously evolving in response to local, national, and regional processes. At the same time, urban space is not merely a neutral backdrop against which social and political processes unfold; it both shapes and is shaped by these relationships.

In order to investigate the changing relationships among governance, space, and society, students will document and map specific urban spaces throughout the city using a variety of artistic media. Through the mapping process the students will produce local knowledge, aiming to reveal power relations, analyse urban conflicts, and outline possible future scenarios.