Lebanon has frequently been praised for its resilience in the face of regional turmoil writes Francesca Fabbri. But behind its solid façade, there are structural weaknesses – a polarised political class, dysfunctional institutions, deteriorating living standards, and social divisions – that threaten the country’s stability in the long term. On the eve of the long-delayed parliamentary elections, this paper takes a closer look at the political dynamics at play in Lebanon and assesses whether political change is imminent.
It also argues that, as a longstanding partner and donor, and as an actor that has a vital interest in the resilience of Lebanon and the wider region, the EU, together with the international community, should look beyond the optics of Lebanon’s deceptive resilience and use the upcoming elections to revive the debate on the country’s governance and examine latent elements of discord and resentment. Turning a blind eye will only further entrench the underlying fragility of Lebanon’s political system. The paper therefore lays out a series of fundamental requirements for a renewed dialogue between the international community and the country’s authorities after the forthcoming elections:
The full paper is published by the European Policy Centre and can be downloaded from here – http://www.epc.eu/documents/uploads/pub_8513_lebanonontheedge.pdf?doc_id=1983