CEU Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2025
| Author | Marouf, Manal |
|---|---|
| Title | From Revolution to Exile: The Transfromation of Syrian Women's Political Subjectivity |
| Summary | This thesis aims to explore the transformation of subjectivity among Syrian women activists who participated in the Syrian revolution in 2011 and their emergence as political actors in complex and intertwined contexts of revolution, war, and exile. Previous studies on Syria have focused on women's political participation and their evolving role in the war from an economic and social perspective. However, these studies have overlooked the life experiences that shaped women's perceptions of themselves as political actors. To address this gap, I conducted a series of interviews with 15 Syrian women who participated in peaceful activities during the 2011 revolution and now live in exile across Europe. The theoretical framework of the thesis consists of three interrelated parts. The first is Sari Hanafi's concept of reflexive individuality. The second is the role of emotions in shaping identity and social relations as discussed by Sara Ahmed and the role of hope in the works of Ben Anderson. The third is the concept of subjectivity, and more specifically, political subjectivity. Together, these frameworks seek to examine how Syrian women construct their selves through experience, thought, emotion, and action and enter into a negotiated relationship with the patriarchal regime in order to change it from within and achieve partial liberation from it. This study seeks to highlight the voices and experiences of Syrian women activists, particularly during the 2011 revolution. It argues that despite the failure of the peaceful revolution and its democratic aspirations, its impact on the minds and hearts of those who participated in it cannot be ignored. |
| Supervisor | Adriana Qubaiova, Alina-Sandra Cucu |
| Department | Gender Studies MA |
| Full text | https://www.etd.ceu.edu/2025/marouf_manal.pdf |
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