Lessons from Korea and Student Encampments with Dr. Lina Koleilat

This week on 2pals and a pod, Randa Abdel-Fattah and Sara Saleh are joined by the brilliant Dr. Lina Koleilat—ethnographer, historian, and Secretary of the Board at the Institute of Postcolonial Studies (IPCS).

Lina brings a unique perspective to the table, bridging the worlds of Middle Eastern politics and East Asian studies.

We sit down to discuss the reality and vital importance of cross-cultural solidarity. Lina opens up about her fascinating fieldwork in South Korea, drawing powerful parallels between different movements for self-determination and the lessons we can learn from observing how other communities handle displacement, borders, and resistance.

Lina also unpacks the power of the student university encampments, sharing vital lessons on grassroots organizing, maintaining momentum, and how true solidarity is built from the ground up.