Abstract
The thesis is a study of Palestinian university students' everyday life in the West Bank.
The aim of the thesis is to examine: How do young college students in the West bank describe their daily lives? How do they experience sense despite the pressured life situation that they are living in?
The study is conducted from a phenomenology and hermeneutic perspective. The thesis is build on eight qualitative interviews with students from two different universities in the West bank.
It provides insight into the subjective experiences of life in Palestine in order to create an understanding for young students Palestinian's life situation. The study generates knowledge about young Palestinian university students‘ challenges due to living under occupation, and how it affects them and their daily lives.
The theoretical framework of the thesis is based on theory of recognition, sense of coherence and belonging and politics of belonging.
The first part of the analysis highlights that the students‘ everyday life is marked by uncertainty and frustration. The students are experiencing everyday life and future as unpredictable and insecure and the main cause is the Israeli occupation. Israel‘s occupation controls almost all aspects of Palestinian life. The students experience and acknowledges their psychologically, socially, politically and economically challenges. They feel limited and oppressed.
Yet, as the second part of the analysis finds, there are resources that strengthen the students‘ sense of meaning in their everyday life: their families, network, religion, and education. The thesis also sheds light on the students‘ dream of establishing an independent Palestinian state and how the dream keeps them motivated and focused. The students are convinced that they play an active role in the Palestinian national movement. Education is perceived as a motivation element and is considered to be the hope of and the basis for obtaining a meaningful and successful future.