Global Governance and Palestine: The Paradox of Remaining 'High on the Agenda'

This handbook chapter examines the paradoxical position of Palestine in global governance: consistently prominent on international agendas while meaningful change remains elusive. Through analysis of UN resolutions, international law mechanisms, and diplomatic initiatives, it explores how institutional engagement with Palestine often serves to maintain rather than challenge the status quo.

The authors argue that global governance frameworks, while purportedly neutral, frequently reproduce power asymmetries by treating Palestine as an exceptional case requiring special procedures. This exceptionalism, rather than advancing Palestinian rights, often undermines them by creating parallel legal and political tracks that deviate from established international norms.

The chapter analyzes specific cases where international intervention has effectively delayed rather than advanced Palestinian self-determination. It concludes by proposing alternative approaches to global governance that could more effectively support Palestinian rights and sovereignty, emphasizing the need to move beyond rhetorical support to meaningful accountability mechanisms.