Edward Said and the parallels between the occupation of Palestine and apartheid in South Africa

Abstract

We analyze here Edward Said's recurring comparisons between the Israeli occupation and South African apartheid. We seek to identify the elements listed by the intellectual to support these parallels, as well as to find out how this analogy was made throughout his production. Was there a change in emphasis, or even a change of perspective? What are the background characteristics? For that, we resorted to a serial and comprehensive reading of Saidian works, including their main books, but also media articles and interviews. Colonialism is the main theoretical key used by Said and thinking about these parallels forces us to review his work as a whole.