Commentary
Julia Choucair-Vizoso
REQUIRED IMAGE
Paper
Lebanon: Finding a Path from Deadlock to Democracy
The Lebanese political system, designed to ensure representation for a diverse population, makes it very difficult for one group to gain enough seats in parliament to govern effectively. Therefore, although Syria's withdrawal has restored Lebanon's sovereignty, it has also left a power vacuum that threatens the stability of the country.
Published on Jan 5, 2006
Source: Carnegie Endowment
Summary
Syria's troop withdrawal in April 2005 allowed Lebanon to hold its first completely independent elections in three decades. However, the Lebanese political system, designed to ensure representation for a diverse population, makes it very difficult for one group to gain enough seats in parliament to govern effectively. Therefore, although Syria's withdrawal has restored Lebanon's sovereignty, it has also left a power vacuum that threatens the stability of the country.
In a new Carnegie Paper, Julia Choucair discusses the problems and prospects facing the largely fractured Lebanese political system. She outlines policies to realistically achieve security, electoral, and economic reform in Lebanon and discusses the role of international actors in Lebanon's political future.
Click on link above for the full text of this Carnegie Paper.
About the Author
Julia Choucair is a project associate in the Democracy and Rule of Law Project and serves as assistant editor of Carnegie's e-monthly, the Arab Reform Bulletin.
About the Author
Julia Choucair-Vizoso
Former Editor in Chief, Sada
Julia Choucair Vizoso is editor in chief of the online journal, Sada. Her research interests include Middle Eastern politics, authoritarianism, and identity politics.
- Elections Highlight Lebanon's Confessional System
- Illusive Reform: Jordan's Stubborn StabilityPaper
Julia Choucair-Vizoso
Recent Work
Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.
More Work from Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center
- How Lebanon’s Sunnis Approach Peace With IsraelCommentary
The community seeks maintain a distance from Hezbollah, and an even greater one from normalization with their southern neighbor.
Mohamad Fawaz
- Lebanon Needs a New Negotiating Strategy with IsraelCommentary
Unless Beirut lowers expectations, any setbacks will end up bolstering Hezbollah’s narrative.
Mohanad Hage Ali
- Lake Qaraoun and Migratory PressuresCommentary
Lebanon’s largest water reservoir is a house of many mansions when it comes to converging failures.
Camille Ammoun
- Realism and the Lebanon-Israel TalksCommentary
Beirut’s desire to break free from Iranian hegemony may push it into a situation where it has to accept Israel’s hegemony.
Michael Young
- Hezbollah’s Wartime StrategyCommentary
The party’s objectives involve tying together the Lebanese and Iranian fronts, while surviving militarily and politically at home.
Mohamad Fawaz
