Al-Shabaka : The Palestinian Policy Network was launched in April 2010 as the first and only independent, transnational Palestinian think tank. We bring together over 200 analysts from across the globe to produce critical policy analysis and craft visions for a liberated, self-determined future. Al-Shabaka is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, registered in the State of California as the Middle East Policy Network.

We envision the Palestinian people articulating and determining the contours of a liberated future.

We believe our vision will be realized through strengthening the popular movement for Palestinian liberation with the theoretical and analytical policy foundations to both dismantle the current structures of oppression and build a liberated future.

Al-Shabaka convenes a multidisciplinary, global network of Palestinian analysts to produce critical policy analysis and collectively imagine a new policymaking paradigm for Palestine and Palestinians worldwide.

All of our work is guided by the following principles :
– Accountability : As a Palestinian organization, we hold ourselves accountable to the Palestinian people. This includes adhering to political red lines developed through Palestinian consensus, avoiding harm to the Palestinian struggle, and proactively working to repair any harm we may cause.
– Collaboration : We believe in the principles of cooperation and partnership. We approach our work from a spirit of camaraderie and coalition-building, and reject the notion of zero-sum power.
– Decolonization : We believe fundamentally in the self-determination of indigenous peoples worldwide. Decolonization - the critical awareness and dismantling of colonial power and primacy, and the reclamation and recentering of indigenous knowledge, land, and culture - is a prerequisite toward achieving a self-determined future.
– Independence : We are a non-partisan, non-governmental think tank ; we produce critical analysis distinct from any political party or government body.
– Intersectionality : We strive for our analysis to be intersectional and recognize the multiple layers of oppression that individuals and communities face, as well as the multitude of opportunities for collaboration that exist through shared experience.
– Respect : We respect our colleagues and partners, and treat them with equality, dignity, and integrity.
– Transformative Learning : We embrace the ongoing process of learning and unlearning as we strive for collective strategies towards liberation. We recognize the ever-evolving environment in which we live and adopt an iterative approach to knowledge production.