Lebanon’s political system is based on a confessional system – “a formula which allocates political and administrative functions to the major sects” (Krayem 2009, 67). These major sects have proportional representation in the Chamber of Deputies therefore rendering each sect a religious and political role. “They are responsible for protecting the religious interests of members of their group through, for example, education and because they have authority over personal status laws” and also “have a political role because they hold political privileges within the state, which means that they focus on increasing their sect’s political power and influence over state institutions” (UNDP 2009, 23). The state structure of Lebanon is therefore weak and remains so due to the zu’ama or the leaders within each sect that seek to retain their power and control over communities (Wilkins 2013, 41).
“The Lebanese State has always been weak, which Owen (2004) relates to two factors. First, the economic elite have always been able to minimise state interference in the economy. Second, politicians have generally sought to serve interests of their constituencies instead of the national interest. According to Brogan (1998), the latter factor has its roots in the National Pact that limited the authority of the state to maximise the autonomy of sectarian groups. As a result, Lebanese citizens feel loyalty towards their community instead of towards the country (Hafez 2008).” (
“With the Syrian conflict drawing to an end and Saudi Arabia and Israel both trying to contain Iran’s expansion in the region, Lebanon may be a theatre for proxy wars. In such a context of heightened regional tensions, the development of resources in or near disputed waters could be used as a trigger for war.” (Marcel and Obeid, 2018)
Citations
Krayem, Hassan, Lebanon: Confessionalism and the Crisis of Democracy, in Secularism, Women & the State: The Mediterranean World in the 21st Century edited by Barry A. Kosmin and Ariela Keysar, 2009, Institute for the Study of Secularism in Society and Culture: Hartford, pages 67 – 76
Lebanon’s sovereignty – The military, social and political rise of Hezbollah”, 5 January 2015, accessed 2018 http://www.exploringgeopolitics.org/publication_efferink_van_leonhardt_lebanon_hezbollah_military_social_political_rise_roles_shias_islamic_rule_iranian_revolution_syrian_influence_israel_amal_musa_al_sadr/
Marcel, Valerie, and Obeid, Jessica, “Is Lebanon Set for an Oil Bonanza”, 10 January, 2018 accessed https://www.chathamhouse.org/expert/comment/lebanon-set-oil-bonanza