| dc.description.abstract | The Gaza Strip is currently passing through a chronic energy crisis. It is energy insecure with electricity blackouts reaching twenty hours a day. This thesis is an examination of the connection between the Gaza energy crisis and de-development, which is acknowledged by the United Nations as the main economic process affecting the people of the Gaza Strip. Using qualitative methods, the central question of the research is: “How does the energy crisis affect de-development and unviability of Gaza?”. The research seeks to demonstrate the importance of electricity in setting out the pre-conditions for de-development. The hypothesis of the research is that without a sufficient level of energy resources and electricity supply, Gazan economic activities will be halted and the infrastructure will be dysfunctional, leading to de-development, unviability and ultimately state failure. The research took place over a period of three years (2015 to 2018), and found evidence to support the hypothesis. It demonstrates that there is a strong correlation between the energy deficiency in the Gaza Strip and de-development, unviability, and state failure. I have employed three main research strategies. First acquiring information on the energy crisis in Gaza and its effect on de-development from primary and secondary sources, including documents and reports prepared by NGOs, the UN, other international organizations and donors, the Palestinian Government, Gaza Governing bodies, Israeli sources, and research institutions. Second, questionnaires were sent to private sector businesses, private citizens, and civil society organizations with the aim of better understanding their perceptions of the energy crisis and its effect on the economic and infrastructure de-development in Gaza. Third, interviews were held with stakeholders from the public and private sectors in Palestine on their experiences, expectations, and analysis. All the collected information and data from the research were analysed from a standpoint of survival and development of a country. During the research, the Gaza Strip was conceptually treated as a state and I therefore used the concept of a failed state. | en_GB |
