Decoding Lebanon

Since 2019, Lebanon has faced a series of overlapping political, economic, and security shocks. Massive public protests, a devastating financial collapse, and the 2020 Beirut Port explosion accelerated the erosion of state institutions and public trust, leaving hundreds of thousands of Lebanese in poverty. Since October 2023, escalating conflict between Hezbollah and Israel has further destabilized the country, triggering large-scale displacement, exacerbating economic conditions, and intensifying debates over sovereignty, security, and state authority. The Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center has continued to examine Lebanon’s evolving crises, the regional dynamics shaping the country’s future, and potential policy options.