Document Type
Honors Project
Abstract
As Lebanon has endured a never-ending cycle of crises for decades, scholars have sought explanations via the country’s intense sectarian system, and have investigated its origins extensively. However, this search has neglected the question of sectarianism’s permeance and maintenance. This paper will focus on the latter, and argues that the sectarian system is sustained by a sectarian elite class, known as el-zu’ama, via their own cults of personality enabling them to maintain control of their sects. This paper will examine pre-statehood history, the civil war, post-war reconstruction, and finally, modern failed challenges to the system to illustrate this thesis.
Recommended Citation
Banat, Sami, "A Veneer of Democracy: How el-Zu’ama Dominate Lebanon’s Political System" (2024). Political Science Honors Projects. 100.
https://digitalcommons.macalester.edu/poli_honors/100
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Comments
Thank you to my honors advisor, Professor Patrick Schmidt for all the support on this project!