The political system in Lebanon remained paralyzed in 2015, leaving the presidency vacant since the expiration of the last term in May 2014, while extending the National Assembly’s term twice since 2013. Furthermore, due to the still ongoing civil war in Syria and the immediate threat of the so-called Islamic State, the country is facing a wave of more than one million registered Syrian refugees as well as a direct involvement in the conflict by the Islamist militant group and political party Hezbollah. The case of the Palestinian refugees permanently living in Lebanon for decades is a still long-lasting issue for the Lebanese society and is in need of setting a new concept for a successful integration of the Palestinians into the political framework of the country.
The object of this paper is to work out the theoretical background of Lebanon’s “partly free” political system, giving a review on the country’s history from the period of the Ottoman Empire until now in the second part, then analyzing in the main part the various factors, which play an important role in the democratization process as well as apply the previously specified theories and approaches to the actual challenges the country is still facing in its political life. In addition to that, several reformation proposals will be critically described and interpreted in order to work out the quintessence of the challenges Lebanon has to cope with in its near future.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Theoretical Background
2.1 Democracy
2.2 Societionalism (Confessionalism)
3. History of the conflict
4. Analysis: Factor + Application of the theory
4.1 Political and Demographic Manipulation
4.2 Demographic Change and Challenges with Immigration
4.3 Electoral system, Corruption and Vote-Buying
4.4 Suggested electoral scenarios for the Lebanese elections in future
5. Conclusion
Objectives and Topics
This term paper investigates the factors undermining the democratization process in Lebanon by analyzing the interplay between its unique confessional political system and socio-political challenges. It seeks to identify the core barriers to achieving a fully functional democratic state.
- The theoretical foundation of democracy and the Lebanese confessional system.
- A historical review of political conflict and instability in Lebanon.
- The impact of demographic shifts, including Palestinian and Syrian refugee integration.
- Critical analysis of electoral manipulation, corruption, and proposed reform scenarios.
Excerpt from the Book
Political and Demographic Manipulation:
The electoral districting which is used today to set up confessionals is based on five large governorates (muhafazat) that are subdivided into smaller constituencies (qadaas). These geographical districts have always been subject to the moods and the agenda of the political leadership. To eliminate an opponent’s chances of being elected or to increase the probability of a partisan government, the Ministry of Interior manipulates and clusters districts accordingly. For example, the districting of Muslim-majority areas in many Lebanese districts has a large influence on the outcome of the Christian polls. (Ekmekji, 2012, p.7) With that, the Christian community was complaining, that their representatives were mostly elected by Muslim votes and didn’t reflect the true will of the people.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: The author outlines the paralysis of the Lebanese political system and sets the research objective to analyze the factors hindering democratization.
2. Theoretical Background: This chapter defines democracy using Robert A. Dahl's criteria and explains the framework of Lebanese confessionalism.
3. History of the conflict: An overview of Lebanon's evolution from the Ottoman Empire through the civil war and subsequent sectarian tensions.
4. Analysis: Factor + Application of the theory: The chapter examines structural issues like electoral manipulation, demographic pressures, and corruption, while reviewing potential reform proposals.
5. Conclusion: Summarizes the findings, reiterating that the confessional system remains the primary obstacle to modernization and full democratic reform.
Keywords
Lebanon, Confessionalism, Democracy, Democratization, Electoral Reform, Sectarianism, Political System, Civil War, Refugees, Corruption, Power-Sharing, Middle East, Political Stability, Hezbollah, Parliamentary Elections.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this paper?
The paper examines the political landscape of Lebanon, specifically investigating why its democratic progress remains hindered and how the confessional system contributes to this stagnation.
What central themes are discussed?
The central themes include the historical development of the Lebanese state, the impact of the confessional power-sharing model, the influence of demographic changes, and the systemic challenges within the electoral process.
What is the research question?
The research question asks: "What is the key factor that undermines democracy in Lebanon?"
Which scientific methodology is applied?
The author utilizes a theoretical analysis combined with a historical review and a case-based analysis of political factors to evaluate the democratic deficits in the country.
What does the main body cover?
The main body focuses on identifying specific factors—such as electoral district manipulation, demographic shifts caused by refugees, and systemic corruption—that maintain the status quo of the sectarian system.
Which keywords define this work?
Key terms include Lebanon, Confessionalism, Democracy, Sectarianism, Electoral Reform, and Political Stability.
How does the author view the "Boutros Commission Draft"?
The author presents it as a significant reform proposal aimed at moving toward international standards for free and fair elections, including provisions for women's quotas and the integration of non-resident voters.
What role do refugees play in the political analysis?
Refugees, particularly Palestinians and Syrians, are seen as a demographic challenge that the current confessional system struggles to integrate, thereby creating social and political tension.
- Citar trabajo
- Alexander Schneider (Autor), 2016, What is the key factor that undermines democracy in Lebanon? Development, State Building and Conflict, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/489696
