Biopower, Sovereignty, and Resistance Literature: A Foucauldian Analysis of Rijālun fisy-Syams

Abstract

This study analyzes Ghassan Kanafani’s Rijālun fisy-Syams as a literary representation of the collective suffering of the Palestinian people and interprets the function of resistance literature as a counter-hegemonic discourse that affirms sovereignty and fosters transnational solidarity. The novelty of this research lies in addressing a critical gap in previous studies, which have largely focused on political-legal dimensions and prominent figures, while the role of literature as counter-knowledge remains underexplored. The urgency of this research is underscored by the ongoing Palestinian–Israeli conflict, which not only shapes regional discourses but also influences global awareness of human rights. Methodologically, the study adopts a qualitative design through library research and textual analysis, with a focus on the symbolism of death, exile, and dispossession. Data were collected through documentation and critical reading of the novel, complemented by relevant academic literature, and analyzed using thematic classification within Michel Foucault’s framework of power-knowledge, particularly the concepts of biopower and counter-knowledge. The findings reveal that the novel constructs collective suffering as a counter-hegemonic narrative that not only archives historical trauma but also articulates the moral legitimacy of sovereignty while extending its resonance to universal dimensions. The primary contribution of this study is to enrich power-knowledge theory with the dimension of resistance literature, while offering practical implications for strengthening global solidarity through cultural diplomacy.