Displacement as method: Halla Anderson, Aidan Parisi, ‘From Harlem to Al-Khalil, Palestine: Displacement is the Method of Colonialism’, Columbia Social Work Review, 17/06/25 | settler colonial studies blog

Displacement as method: Halla Anderson, Aidan Parisi, ‘From Harlem to Al-Khalil, Palestine: Displacement is the Method of Colonialism’, Columbia Social Work Review, 17/06/25

17Jul25

Excerpt: Displacement is not only a side effect of colonialism; instead, it is a method. From Harlem to الخليل (Al-Khalīl), displacement impacts those surviving through colonialism. This paper will refer to Al-Khalīl, rather than Hebron, in accordance with the Palestinian Arabic name for Hebron, to respect the pre-colonial name for the land. This paper will also utilize the term IOF, meaning israeli Occupation Forces, in lieu of the term IDF, meaning israeli Defense Forces, to recognize the occupation of Palestinian land and the expansion of military forces as a tool for colonization. Both Harlem and Al-Khalīl have been fighting against colonialism and displacement, which is defined as “The settler goal of seizing and establishing property rights over land and resources required the removal of indigenous, which was accomplished by various forms of direct and indirect violence, including militarized genocide” (Glenn, p.54). Al-Khalīll is actively facing displacement through genocide under the israeli occupation. Harlem faces displacement from gentrification and institutional expansion. Both Al-Khalīl and Harlem serve as examples of how displacement can be engineered under settler and capitalist institutions.

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