Samantha Borders-Shoemaker

Samantha Borders is a graduate of the University of Exeter, receiving a Distinction in the MA Palestine Studies program and worked under Israeli historian and human rights activist, Ilan Pappe. She has worked as Development Officer at Project Hope Nablus in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, a freelance journalist, and as a campaign organizer for Palestine solidarity campaigns in the UK and US. Her publications range from academic journals to poetry compilations, though her primary focus is the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and social issues throughout the Levant. Borders regularly guest lectures at universities and solidarity campaigns regarding various issues related to Palestine.

Her research has primarily focused on the construction of historical narrative in relation to Christianity’s connection with the modern Middle East. Because of her keen desire to positively and constructively contribute to the situation in Israel and Palestine, Borders developed an interest in SCAR’s PhD program and is eager to engage in studying conflict in historical narrative. She seeks to promote conflict resolution through deeper understanding of the religious subaltern voices at play and their integral position in the peacemaking process.

Meet the rest of the 2015 PhD Cohort