The Annual Palestine Forum, organized by the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies and the Institute for Palestine Studies, has dedicated a special session in the upcoming fifth round (2027) to examining the scholarly legacy of Walid Khalidi. Several specialiats will participate in the session, which will be held as a tribute to the late Palestinian historian in recognition of his intellectual contribution to Palestine.
Walid Khalidi is regarded as one of the most important Arab and Palestinian historians of the twentieth century. He devoted his academic career to shaping the Palestinian historical narrative of the Nakba and the subsequent conflict and occupation, through rigorous scholarly research. His work played a foundational role in establishing Nakba studies within the broader field of modern Palestinian history, earning him recognition as a key historical reference. Khalidi’s legacy extends to institutional development, as one of the founders of the Institute for Palestine Studies in Beirut in 1963, which has since become the largest and most significant research centre specialized in the Palestine question.
The session will examine Khalidi’s most significant works and research methodology, while also exploring his enduring influence on the generations of scholars engaged with Palestinian studies in his wake. Participants will address several key themes, foremost among them Khalidi’s position within contemporary Arab historiography, his impact on the trajectory of Palestinian studies in both the Arab region and globally, and prospects for the future of the field in light of his rich intellectual legacy.
The Annual Palestine Forum is an annual event held by the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies in cooperation with the Institute for Palestine Studies. It brings together researchers and specialists from around the world to engage with historical and contemporary issues relating to Palestine. The Forum’s organizing committee has received approximately 500 research proposals for the upcoming fifth round which are currently undergoing review in accordance with internationally recognized academic standards.
