Twinning Comparative Literature and Arab Diaspora

The present article seeks to investigate the phenomenon of Arab diaspora through a comparative lens.Accordingly, the novels of two different contemporary female writers have been chosen including Susan Abulhawa andInaam Kachachi in order to be analyzed through the American comparative school and diaspora theory. This studyaims to prove the way these two novelists are inextricably linked to their lost homes. So far, there have been no similarstudies bringing the respective authors together, moreover, there has not been any study regarding the comparativeanalysis of Abulhawa and Kachachi in the realm of diaspora. As such, this article tries to fill the gaps of previousstudies by assimilating the diaspora theory into the political and historical realms. For achieving this aim, Faist’s(2010) three phases of diaspora, Said’s (2000) concept of exile, and Jost’s (1974) four criteria of the American schoolare going to be adopted. Through this combination, this study will illustrate the similarities and differences betweenAbulhawa and Kachachi in writing about their homeland.

Keywords:

Arab diaspora , comparative literature , exile , home(land) , integration