Contents

1 Introduction.................................................................................................................................... 270

2 Strengths and Gaps in the Current Scholarship.............................................................................

2.1 Research Methods................................................................................................................ 271

2.2 Unit of Analysis................................................................................................................... 273

2.3 Topical Focus........................................................................................................................ 276

3 Conclusion: Directions for Future Research on the Geographies of Palestinian

Children....................................................................................................................................... 280

3.1 Recommendation #1: Include Young Children and Family as a Population of

Interest......................................................................................................................................... 281

3.2 Recommendation #2: Use Multiple Methods and Draw from Multiple Sources

to Understand Children’s Diverse Experiences.......................................................................... 282

3.3 Recommendation #3: Encourage Multidisciplinary Research to Maximize

Research Application for Practice and Policy Relevance........................................................... 283

References............................................................................................................................................ 283

Abstract

While the field of children’s geographies continues to grow, the subfield of geographies of children affected by political violence is still in its formative stages.

B. Akesson (*)

Faculty of Social Work, Wilfrid Laurier University, Kitchener, ON, Canada e-mail: bakesson@wlu.ca

© Springer Science+Business Media Singapore 2017 269

C. Harker et al. (eds.), Conflict, Violence and Peace, Geographies of Children and YoungPeople 11, DOI 10.1007/978-981-287-038-4_8

Decades of Israeli occupation have resulted in the forced displacement of Palestinians, restrictions on Palestinian movement, and ruptured Palestinian com­munities (Taraki 2006). This has consequences for Palestinian children; when family members are suddenly separated from one another, the family unit is undermined and children’s protective environments are compromised. Moreover, many Palestinian children live in settings characterized by the threat of violence - perpetrated by both Israelis and Palestinians - in their homes, schools, and neigh­borhoods, compounded by abject poverty resulting from occupation.

Generally, while the field of children’s geographies continues to grow, the subfield of geographies of children affected by political violence is still in its formative stages. Although the launch of numerous studies focusing on Palestinian children promises new insights into the needs of this specific population, the current body of research tends to rely on “tried and tested” research methods, focuses on older children, and emphasizes a medical model approach emphasizing trauma and its effects.

This chapter takes a broad socio-ecological approach to children’s geographies including empirical studies ranging from children’s mental health to their diverse socio-spatial contexts (e.g., family, school, community). It highlights key contri­butions and existing gaps in the current body of research with Palestinian children. The bulk of the chapter provides an overview of the current state of knowledge and is organized around three areas: research methods, unit of analysis, and topical focus. First, many studies tackle the occupation and its effects headfirst, diving into the topic through the use of “tried and tested” research methods. There is a heavy reliance on cross-sectional survey design, constrained by the limited definition of exposure to political violence and resulting functioning that depends primarily on negative psychosocial outcomes such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Second, individual children and the mother-child dyad tend to be the population of focus, which excludes other socio-spatial aspects that may influence children’s experience (e.g., fathers, siblings, extended family, teachers, community members). Third, researchers seem content to explore whether political violence has negative psychological consequences for children, but seem hesitant to move beyond this broad premise. There is little emphasis on variations such as level and layering of exposure, potential mediators (e.g., socioeconomic contexts, social support, political ideology), and other outcome measures such as positive mechanisms (e.g., resilience, posttraumatic growth). After discussion of these gaps in the literature, the chapter concludes with recommendations for future research directions.

Though it aims to be as comprehensive as possible, this chapter is not a systematic review or meta-analysis, nor is it an exhaustive review of the literature. The sampling of research presented in the following pages reveals trends, strengths, and gaps. There are clearly noteworthy exceptions for all of the limitations that are noted, and these (though clearly not all) are indicated in the discussion.

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