Download or read book Civil Society and Democracy in Post Ta if Lebanon written by Stephen Burkett Howard and published by . This book was released on 2006 with total page 332 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Lebanon is lauded as one of the most democratic states in the region; however, p olitical practice casts doubt on the legitimacy of the system. The objective of this thesis seeks to answer a single question: Based on the established norms o f civil society, is Lebanon viably democratic? I propose that Lebanon does not p ossess a civil society, and thus, due to the inherent relationship between civil society and democracy, Lebanon does not meet the requisite criteria to be consi dered a liberal democracy. Particular social norms - rather than rational plural ism - forged the Lebanese confessional system and function to preclude the estab lishment of civil society. Factors maintaining this state of affairs, such as th e vast stores of authority vested in the communal elite, the cantonization of th e populace, the extra-territorial communities among the dispossessed Palestinian s and armed factions, the preponderance of political ideologies along diverging national interests, and the abuse of external ties and private interests all ser ve to buoy the confessional aspect of Lebanon and ensure the continuation of a d ysfunctional state. Through the use of survey data this thesis attempts to measure the operational indicators of civil society in the hopes of providing empirical support to the a rgument that Lebanon lacks democratic legitimacy. The instrument deals with such predictors as: political integration and a consensual political culture, willi ngness to compromise, pluralism and respect for diversity, rule of law and respe ct for authority, and active political involvement. My assumption held that respondents would demonstrate low levels of national co hesion and pluralistic values, suggesting that Lebanon has not yet achieved the degree of political modernization supportive of a liberal democracy; however, th e survey findings reveal a high degree of integration and tolerance among the re spondents - a surprising find since it undermined certain widely held notions of Lebanese society. Nevertheless, the data also exposes the illegitimacy of the s tate through the particularly low scores on the indices related to justice syste m legitimacy, political involvement, and willingness to grant the state authorit y.
Download or read book Civil Society and Political Reform in Lebanon and Libya written by Carmen Geha and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2016-02-12 with total page 215 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Lebanon and Libya have undergone critical political events in recent years. However, demands for reform from civic institutions during these transitions have not led to concrete political decisions. Civil Society and Political Reform in Lebanon and Libya reveals the deeply-entrenched historical patterns and elements of continuity that have led to path dependent outcomes in the political transitions of both countries. Motivated by personal experiences as an activist in Lebanon, the author draws together a wide range of data from participant observations, nation-wide surveys, interviews and focus groups in a careful analysis of these two civil society-led reform campaigns. The study demonstrates how the combination of weak states and power-sharing agreements marginalizes civic organisations and poses institutional constraints on the likelihood of reform. Written by an active participant in the political events discussed, this book offers new insight into two countries which present comparable and informative case studies. As such, it is a valuable resource for students, scholars and policymakers interested in civil society, politics and reform in the Middle East and North Africa.
Download or read book Power Sharing after Civil War written by John Nagle and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2021-11-29 with total page 157 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book provides a wide-ranging exploration of the legacy of Lebanon’s peace agreement in the 30 years since it was signed. The chapters in this edited volume have been written by leading scholars and provide in-depth analyses of key issues in postwar Lebanon, including the performance of power-sharing, human rights, communal memory and sectarianism, conflict and peace, militias, political parties and elections. A core strength of the book is the multidisciplinary approach to understanding postwar Lebanon, ranging from political science, international relations, sociology, conflict and peace studies, history and memory studies. The multidisciplinary character of the book allows for a rich and detailed evaluation of the ongoing legacy and consequences of Lebanon’s postwar settlement. The book will be of interest to scholars, students and people interested in contemporary Lebanese politics and society. It will also be attractive for a wider international audience interested in the consequences of postwar power-sharing systems and peace processes. The chapters in this book were originally published as a special issue of the journal, Nationalism and Ethnic Politics.
Download or read book Civil Society and Lebanon written by Michael D. Dawahare and published by Universal-Publishers. This book was released on 2000 with total page 142 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This study pursues a hermeneutic and dialogic conception of the public sphere. Through a critical assessment of the development of the closely related ideas of civil society and a democratic public sphere, Specifically, this study explores Ibn Khaldoun's notion of Asabiya and its impact on the constitution of civil society and the public sphere in Lebanon, paying particular attention to the notions of power and authority within the context of this indigenous concept in particular, and Lebanese (and Arab) culture in general. "Professor Dawahare has applied a set of complex theories to the Lebanese situation, and the result has been to better explain Lebanese politics as well as to probe new theoretical terrain. The study is comprehensive and represents a better use of theory to produce insights into one of the most complex political systems in the Middle East region than many other recent works on the subject. This book will be of interest to both social theorists and Middle East Scholars." John D. Stempel, Director The Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce, University of Kentucky
Download or read book Role of Civil Society in the Democratization Process written by Chadi Nachabe and published by . This book was released on 2014 with total page 184 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The main purpose of this study is to uncover the extent to which Lebanese civil society can contribute to social and political changes and be an agent to the democratization process. The study also aims at presenting an appraisal of the reality of the Lebanese civil society in terms of advocating for changes and reforms according to civil society activists through the case of the "Civil Campaign for Electoral Reform "(CCER). The study contributes to the growing body of research on the role of civil society in democratization process. Interviews were conducted with organizers of CCER in Lebanon and key civil society activists as a method of collecting data. The case of the CCER was chosen a research for the purpose of extracting factors and conclusions from this specific experience and making it available to the general public. Six parameters were used to draw an appraisal of the CCER case and they are: advocacy and campaigning means, methods of awareness dissemination, methods of communication and networking , internal organization , political framework, and socio-economic factors. Results show that civil society organizations in Lebanon have limited influence over state policies and further confirm the literature that most of the civil society organizations impact is through welfare provisioning rather than public and political advocacy. For civil society to be a countervailing power against state domination and corruption, and thus be an agent toward democratization in Lebanon it needs to be better organized and acquire proficiency in networking and associating for cooperative action. It also needs to be more realistic in approaching Lebanese politics given the constraints that confessional consociational politics places on movements of civil society.
Download or read book Reproducing Sectarianism written by Paul W. T. Kingston and published by State University of New York Press. This book was released on 2013-06-20 with total page 355 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Arab Spring in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, and elsewhere has highlighted the growing importance of the politics of civil society in the contemporary Middle East. In Reproducing Sectarianism, Paul W. T. Kingston examines rights-oriented advocacy networks within Lebanon's postwar civil society, focusing on movements and political campaigns based on gender relations, the environment, and disability. Set within Lebanon's postwar sectarian democracy, whose factionalizing dynamics have long penetrated the country's civil society, Kingston's fascinating study provides an in-depth analysis of the successes and challenges that ensued in promoting rights-oriented social policies. Drawing on extensive field research, including interviews and a wealth of primary documents, Kingston has produced a groundbreaking work that will be of interest to Middle East experts and nonexperts alike.
Download or read book Democratisation and Power Sharing in Stormy Weather written by Tamirace Fakhoury Mühlbacher and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2009-11-14 with total page 471 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Is democracy possible only in homogeneous societies? Does heterogeneity - clude a stable democracy? Throughout history, ethnic, linguistic, or religious homogeneity whether by circumstance, coercion, or choice, has seemingly been conducive to democracy. In France, democracy was established after the impo- tion of religious uniformity and the revocation of the Edict of Nantes. The United States pulled in immigrants who renounced their original affiliations to forge a new identity in a newly born state. Still, defying assumptions, democracies have emerged in heterogeneous states such as the Swiss Confederation, the Successor States of the Holy Roman Empire and, later, those carved out of the previous colonial empires. One common feature is the failure of – often violent – attempts to enforce homogeneity, or the lack of any such attempt in the first place. In the course of time, these divided societies have learned to live in diversity, to pacify their differences, and to find a path - wards peace or at least accommodation. In sum, they went beyond forms of se- rating powers to sharing power. Whether defined by ethnicity, language, religion, or even ideology, communities agreed to a pact on participating in a joint gove- ment based on proportional or even equal representation. It is noteworthy that political systems based on power-sharing were long marg- al in mainstream political science which laid an emphasis on democratic tran- tions in homogeneous societies and on socio-economic or cultural prerequisites that facilitate the rise of democracy.
Download or read book Civil Society and Political Reform in Lebanon and Libya written by Carmen Geha and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2016-02-12 with total page 207 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Lebanon and Libya have undergone critical political events in recent years. However, demands for reform from civic institutions during these transitions have not led to concrete political decisions. Civil Society and Political Reform in Lebanon and Libya reveals the deeply-entrenched historical patterns and elements of continuity that have led to path dependent outcomes in the political transitions of both countries. Motivated by personal experiences as an activist in Lebanon, the author draws together a wide range of data from participant observations, nation-wide surveys, interviews and focus groups in a careful analysis of these two civil society-led reform campaigns. The study demonstrates how the combination of weak states and power-sharing agreements marginalizes civic organisations and poses institutional constraints on the likelihood of reform. Written by an active participant in the political events discussed, this book offers new insight into two countries which present comparable and informative case studies. As such, it is a valuable resource for students, scholars and policymakers interested in civil society, politics and reform in the Middle East and North Africa.
Download or read book Lebanon s Democracy written by Mohamad Hadi El-Amin and published by . This book was released on 2012 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In Lebanon, there is a common understanding and belief among many politicians and citizens, in equal measure, that Lebanon is a democratic country. This belief is not only restricted to those inside Lebanon, but also to be found in neighbouring Arab countries and among their people. In other words, Lebanon is believed to be a country that enjoys a relatively democratic political system, rule of law, and a vibrant civil society, compared to the rest of the region. However, this is for the most part a misunderstanding, and originates from most Lebanese people's view that a modest level of freedom should be considered democracy, and that a relatively unconstrained civil society means an effective civil society. The main purpose of this thesis is to analyse Lebanon's political system and establish a clearer picture about whether the democratic claim is real or just an illusion. In order to build this picture, I have concentrated on the internal and external obstacles that have impeded the evolution of the Lebanese political system. The first part of the thesis discusses whether or not the Lebanese political system shares any of the features of functioning democratic political systems and whether or not it is running in a modus which reflects democratic values. In later chapters, the thesis moves on to examine the internal and external factors that have hindered the state from becoming a sovereign, authoritative state and thus without the necessary foundations for becoming a democratic state. The study will demonstrate that Lebanon suffers from the domination of a militant organisation within its borders which violates the country's sovereignty and disrupts the government and its institutions from functioning properly and being authoritative. Moreover, it will reveal that most citizens - a key element in any democracy - continue to feel subjugated, unable to make their voices heard, and without a say in the decision making process. Moreover, it will be demonstrated that Lebanon suffers from several problems. Firstly and most importantly, it suffers from the lack of an effective state that imposes the rule of law on all of Lebanon's territory. Secondly and equally important, Lebanon suffers from missing a major component that constitutes an essential pillar for the state, and that is sovereignty. Thirdly, election results are not taken into consideration as the public's electoral choices are not respected, while instead powerful elite continues to rule the country illegally. These impediments and many others lead the study to conclude that the Lebanese political system currently remains far from being considered a democracy.
Download or read book Power sharing After Civil War written by John Nagle and published by . This book was released on 2022 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Ending Syria s Occupation of Lebanon written by Daniel Pipes and published by Daniel Pipes. This book was released on 2000 with total page 30 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Democratic Transitions in the Arab World written by Ibrahim Elbadawi and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2017-01-05 with total page 357 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A cross-country examination of authoritarianism and democracy in North Africa and the Middle East.
Download or read book Civil Society and Political Democracy in Lebanon written by Ladan Madeleine Moghaddas and published by . This book was released on 2006 with total page 404 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book The Breakdown of the State in Lebanon 1967 1976 written by Farid El-Khazen and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2000 with total page 441 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Why did the Lebanese state, the most open and democratic political system in the Middle East, break down between 1967 and 1976? This study rejects the standard explanations - that the breakdown was due to the divisive forces inherent in Lebanon's confessional political system, or to an unequal distribution of power and increasing socio-economic inequalities, or to government inefficiency, nepotism and corruption. Instead, the author argues, the causes must be sought in the vulnerability of an open and democratic state faced with contentious situations directly linked to issues that constitute the core of official state ideology in a regional system composed of authoritarian states. The key questions hinge on the relationship between state and civil society: which has supremacy over the other and how does the relationship affect regime stability in crisis situations?
Download or read book The Quest for Citizenship in Post Taef Lebanon written by Safia Antoun Saadeh and published by . This book was released on 2007 with total page 178 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Dilemmas of Democracy and Political Parties in Sectarian Societies written by Nazih Richani and published by Palgrave Macmillan. This book was released on 1998 with total page 183 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this volume, Nazih Richani examines the intricacies of Lebanese political life and provides an in-depth study of the Progressive Socialist Part (PSP), on of Lebanon's most important political parties.
Download or read book In Dialogue With Lebanon written by Elie A. Salem and published by . This book was released on 2023 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
