Lebanon: Consociation, Civil War, and the Search for Stability. ACSC Quick-Look 05-07
Abstract
In the three decades following independence from France in 1943, Lebanon was considered to be a model of a pluralistic, progressive, and moderate state in the Arab world. The achievements of the Lebanese state appeared all the more remarkable given the deeply divided nature of Lebanese society. With the onset of a 15-year civil war in 1975, however, the Lebanese model quickly took a darker meaning, signifying violent internal conflict exacerbated by external intervention leading eventually to a failed state. Since 1990, as a result, in part, of a large-scale Syrian presence in Lebanon, some measure of stability has returned. This stability, unfortunately, is probably more akin to an extended ceasefire rather than a political settlement as the basic issues that fueled the civil war in the first place have remained unresolved. Rather than offer a direct model that offers positive lessons that could in some way be applied to Iraq today, Lebanon instead offers a cautionary tale of problems to avoid if the US-led occupation of Iraq is to launch a stable and pluralistic regime in Baghdad.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2005
- Accession Number
- ADA430901
Entities
People
- Christopher Hemmer
Organizations
- Air Command and Staff College