The Palestinian national movement in Lebanon: a political history of the 'ayn al-hilwe' camp

Hosting over 50,000 inhabitants and governed by competing militias, 'Ayn Al-Hilwe [Ein Al-Hilweh] in the south of Lebanon is one of the most contested refugee camps in the Middle East. It is known as the 'capital of the Palestinian diaspora' and has endured a long history of internal power struggles and external influence and intervention. Based on extensive ethnographic research in the camp - focused on the actors who have shaped its modern political trajectory – this book looks at the role of exile leaderships, camp-based militia commanders and shape-shifting networks of patronage in the political landscape of the Palestinian movement in Lebanon.