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Portrait of Leila Farsakh

Leila Farsakh

Influential Scholar on Palestinian Issues

Born
1967
Born in
Jordan
Read Leila’s story2 videosAsk about Leila

Why Leila is here

Pioneering Work in Political Economy of Palestine

Their story

Leila Farsakh is a distinguished Palestinian political economist and professor at the University of Massachusetts Boston. Known for her deep analysis of the Israeli occupation of Palestine and the political economy of the Middle East, Farsakh has significantly contributed to academic and public understanding of Palestinian labor migration, international migration, and regional integration.

Milestones

The moments that shaped Leila’s path.

  1. Academic Credentials

    Earned her MPhil from the University of Cambridge in 1990 and PhD from the University of London in 2003.

  2. Research Fellowship

    Conducted post-doctoral research at Harvard's Center for Middle Eastern Studies and was affiliated with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

  3. Award Recognition

    Received the Peace and Justice Award from the Cambridge Peace Commission in 2001.

  4. Editorial Leadership

    Served on the editorial board of the Journal of Palestine Studies from 2008 to 2020.

  5. Innovative Projects

    Co-directed the Jerusalem 2050 project, a joint initiative by MIT aimed at envisioning future peace and conflict resolutions in Jerusalem.

Legacy

What they built, changed and left behind.

  1. Scholarly Publications

    Authored key works such as "Palestinian Labour Migration to Israel: Labour, Land and Occupation," providing a critical view of the economic impacts of the occupation.

  2. Advocacy and Policy Influence

    Worked with international organizations including the OECD, contributing to policies impacting the Middle East.

    Watch

  3. Educational Impact

    Through her teaching and public lectures, Farsakh has educated a generation of students on Middle Eastern politics and the complexities of the Israeli occupation of Palestine.

  4. Academic Collaboration

    Engaged in meaningful collaborations with institutions like Birzeit University to bolster research on Palestinian economic and social issues.

  5. Public Engagement

    Regularly participates in conferences and public discussions, advocating for a nuanced understanding of Palestinian rights and statehood prospects.

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Watch & listen

Leila in interviews, talks and coverage.

  • 01Advocacy and Policy Influence↗

  • 02Public Engagement↗

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