MidEast Brief::Lebanon

Blogs

Lebanon::Articles

MERIP, Middle East Report - August, 2009

Regardless of who "wins" or "loses," the nature of Lebanon's political system means that the outcome of the elections will have limited consequences for actual politics and policy making. Lebanon's political system necessitates power sharing among religious groups so as to ensure government stability. Because the system functions by consensus, the opposition retains de facto veto power, bolstered by the threat of armed force.

Lebanon's Elections: Avoiding a New Cycle of Confrontation

International Crisis Group - June, 2009

In this sense, the truce obscured the issues that fuelled the conflict and have gradually re-emerged as the campaign intensified. These include the status of Hizbollah's weapons, the Sunni-Shiite split, an intra-Christian competition for leadership and differing views of Lebanon's identity and foreign alliances.

Old Wine in Older Skins: Lebanon Elects Another Parliament

Heiko Wimmen

MERIP - June, 2009

While ostensibly at odds over issues of existential national importance, such as how and against whom to defend the country, and how to build an efficient state, in reality all sides draw upon and sometimes fan sectarian sentiment and fear for much of their mobilization.

Lebanon's Election: Will the Shaky Equilibrium Hold?

The Economist - May, 2009

Despite its history of turbulence and the continuing rise of the Shias, Lebanon's fragile peace may persistat least for a while

Re-Imagining the Lebanon Track: Toward a New U.S. Policy

Nicholas Noe

Century Foundation - March, 2009

Rather than again deferring efforts toward a peaceful settlement in Lebanon--until the menu of more complex regional issues are hopefully resolved--the United States should move quickly in the coming months to implement a robust, multifaceted approach that breaks with the anemic and oftentimes counterproductive policies of the past three years

Nasrallah and the Compromise and Rehabilitation of Hizbullah's Reputation

David Wilmsen

Arab Media and Society - January, 2009

Not all Lebanese are in his thrall, but Hizbullah's prodigious military capabilities and growing power within the country's political system means that Nasrallah's words bear more portent than anyone else's for the future of the country--both immediate and long term.

Lebanon's Media Battle

Paul Cochrane

Arab Media and Society - October, 2008

During the conflict Lebanon's media became further entrenched in their sectarian and political camps, pan-Arab media did the same, and domestic media outlets came under direct attack. The Lebanese public, meanwhile, holed themselves up inside and watched events play out on television.

Lebanon's Post-Doha Political Theater

Stacey Philbrick Yadav

Middle East Research and Information Project - July, 2008

The New Lebanese Equation: The Christians' Central Role

International Crisis Group - July, 2008

Lebanon's Palestinian Ghetto Redesigned

Don Duncan

LeMonde Diplomatique - July, 2008

Hope in the Levant

Paul Salem, and Marina Ottaway

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace - May, 2008

Lebanon's Brush with Civil War