Ilana Feldman

Ilana Feldman is an anthropologist and professor at George Washington University's Elliott School of International Affairs. Her research focuses on Palestinian refugees, humanitarianism, policing, and governance in the Middle East. Feldman has conducted extensive ethnographic fieldwork in Gaza, examining the dynamics of everyday life and governance under prolonged conflict and displacement. Her notable works include "Governing Gaza: Bureaucracy, Authority, and the Work of Rule, 1917-1967" (2008) and "Life Lived in Relief: Humanitarian Predicaments and Palestinian Refugee Politics" (2018). Her scholarship explores themes of bureaucracy, citizenship, and the lived experiences of Palestinians under various governing authorities. Feldman's work has contributed significantly to understanding how administrative practices shape political authority and social life in contested territories. Through her research and writing, Feldman examines how humanitarian aid intersects with political governance and investigates the ways displaced populations navigate long-term refugee status. Her publications have appeared in numerous academic journals including Cultural Anthropology, Annual Review of Anthropology, and the Journal of Refugee Studies.

Limited review data exists for Ilana Feldman's academic works on Palestinian refugees and governance in Gaza. Her books receive scattered academic citations but minimal public reader reviews. From available reviews: Readers valued her detailed ethnographic research and first-hand accounts from Palestinians. Several noted her methodical documentation of bureaucratic systems under occupation. Academic reviewers cited the depth of her archival work. Critics questioned her objectivity, with some readers finding her perspective too sympathetic to Palestinian narratives. A few reviews noted dense academic language made the works inaccessible to general readers. Available ratings: Governing Gaza (2008) - Goodreads: 4.0/5 (5 ratings, 0 written reviews) - Amazon: No reviews Police Encounters (2019) - No public ratings found Life Lived in Relief (2018) - Goodreads: No ratings - Amazon: No reviews Note: This assessment is limited by the scarcity of public reader reviews for these academic press titles.

Police Encounters: Security and Surveillance in Gaza under Egyptian Rule (2015) Examines the security practices and daily encounters between police and residents in Gaza during the period of Egyptian administration from 1948-1967.

Governing Gaza: Bureaucracy, Authority, and the Work of Rule, 1917-1967 (2008) Analyzes how Gaza was governed through different periods of rule, from the British Mandate through Egyptian administration, focusing on bureaucratic practices and civil servants.

Life Lived in Relief: Humanitarian Predicaments and Palestinian Refugee Politics (2018) Documents the long-term Palestinian refugee experience and the role of humanitarian aid through examining multiple generations of refugees in different locations.

In the Name of Humanity: The Government of Threat and Care (2010) Studies how humanitarian organizations operate and make decisions about providing care while managing various forms of threat and risk.

The Claims of Culture at Empire's End: Syria and Lebanon under French Rule (2019) Investigates how cultural claims and categories were used in governing Syria and Lebanon during the French Mandate period.

Looking for the State in Archives (2017) Explores methods of researching state power and governance through archival materials, with particular focus on colonial and post-colonial contexts.