The Politics of Palestinian Worker in the International Labour Conference, 1978-2024
Wang, Kening (2024)
2024
Master's Programme in Social Science Research
Yhteiskuntatieteiden tiedekunta - Faculty of Social Sciences
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Hyväksymispäivämäärä
2024-11-13
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-202410309648
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-202410309648
Tiivistelmä
The thesis explores the evolving institutional role of the International Labour Organization (ILO) in addressing the plight of Palestinian workers amidst the backdrop of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, particularly following the escalation of war in October 2023. Drawing on a comprehensive analysis of ILO archives, this study interrogates the dynamics influencing the ILO’s responses to the socio-economic challenges faced by Palestinian workers in the Occupied Arab Territories (OAT). It poses three central research questions: (1) What drives the institutional changes in the ILO's actions and organisational structure on Palestine? (2) What, how, and why do member state delegates speak differently about Palestine? And (3) How does the Director-General exercise agency to overcome institutional constraints and fulfil its mandate on Palestine?
Utilizing a discursive institutionalist framework, the research reveals that member state interactions are primarily ideational and diplomatic, with delegates employing strategic rhetoric to advocate for pro-Palestinian resolutions despite the political complexities inherent in international relations and global labour politics. The findings indicate that while the ILO has expanded its technical cooperation programs and institutional reforms since 1994, the organisation's actions are largely reactive, shaped by the political pressures exerted by member states, their conflicting interests, and the constraints imposed by its own institutional design. The analysis highlights the importance of idea and discourse in explaining institutional change, emphasizing how crises catalyse normative incremental changes within the ILO. Ultimately, this study contributes to the understanding of the ILO's role in promoting Palestinian social rights and state-building while underscoring the challenges it faces in transitioning from a moral commentator to determined actor as it aspires to be within complex geopolitical realities.
Utilizing a discursive institutionalist framework, the research reveals that member state interactions are primarily ideational and diplomatic, with delegates employing strategic rhetoric to advocate for pro-Palestinian resolutions despite the political complexities inherent in international relations and global labour politics. The findings indicate that while the ILO has expanded its technical cooperation programs and institutional reforms since 1994, the organisation's actions are largely reactive, shaped by the political pressures exerted by member states, their conflicting interests, and the constraints imposed by its own institutional design. The analysis highlights the importance of idea and discourse in explaining institutional change, emphasizing how crises catalyse normative incremental changes within the ILO. Ultimately, this study contributes to the understanding of the ILO's role in promoting Palestinian social rights and state-building while underscoring the challenges it faces in transitioning from a moral commentator to determined actor as it aspires to be within complex geopolitical realities.