Lebanon’s current power-sharing system, a product of the 1989 Taif Accord that brought an end to the country’s fifteen-year civil war, has proven to be the greatest hinderance to good governance.

As Lebanon continues to flatten the coronavirus curve and as the country opens up again, the protest movement is largely expected to make a comeback, with protestors again voicing demands for an independent judiciary, accountability, early parliamentary elections, and financial reform—among others.

As the living conditions for Syrian refugees worsen and the risks of going home mount, the notion of a voluntary return is rapidly losing meaning.

A sustainable political settlement to end the multiple conflicts in Syria will not be possible without a real focus on the challenges of refugee returns.