Civil and Uncivil Violence in Lebanon : A History of the Internationalization of Communal Conflict

In this long-awaited work, Samir Khalaf analyzes the history of civil strife and political violence in Lebanon and reveals the inherent contradictions that have plagued that country and made it so vulnerable to both inter-Arab and superpower rivalries. How did a fairly peaceful and resourceful society, with an impressive history of viable pluralism, coexistence, and republicanism, become the site of so much barbarism and incivility? Khalaf argues that historically internal grievances have been magnified or deflected to become the source of international conflict. From the beginning, he shows, foreign interventions have consistently exacerbated internal problems. Lebanon's fragmented political culture is a byproduct of two general features. First, it reflects the traditional forces and political conflicts caused by striking differences in religious beliefs and communal and sectarian loyalties that continue to split the society and reinforce its factional character. Second, and superimposed on these, are new forms of socioeconomic and cultural stress caused by Lebanon's role in the continuing international conflicts in the region. Khalaf concludes that Lebanon is now at a crossroads in its process of political and social transformation, and proposes some strategies to re-create a vibrant civil and political culture that can accommodate profound transformations in the internal, domestic sphere as well as mediate developments taking place internationally. Throughout, Khalaf demonstrates how the internal and external currents must be considered simultaneously in order to understand the complex and tragic history of the country. This deeply considered and subtle analysis of the interplay of complex historical forces helps us to imagine a viable future not only for Lebanon but also for the Middle East as a whole. Contents......Page 8 Preface......Page 10 Acknowledgments......Page 22 1. On Proxy Wars and Surrogate Victims......Page 28 2. The Radicalization of Communal Loyalties......Page 50 3. The Drift into Incivility......Page 65 4. Peasants, Commoners and Clerics: Resistance and Rebellion: 1820–1860......Page 89 5. Revolt and Counter-Revolt: Civil Strife of 1958......Page 130 6. Lebanon’s Golden/Gilded Age: 1943–1975......Page 178 7. From Playground to Battleground: Preludes to Civil Strife......Page 231 8. The Scares and Scars of War......Page 259 9. From Shakib Effendi to Ta’if......Page 300 10. Prospects For Civility......Page 331 Notes......Page 356 Bibliography......Page 362 A......Page 380 B......Page 381 C......Page 382 D......Page 383 F......Page 384 G......Page 385 I......Page 386 L......Page 387 M......Page 388 N......Page 389 P......Page 390 R......Page 391 S......Page 392 V......Page 394 Z......Page 395 "In this work, Samir Khalaf analyzes the history of civil strife and political violence in Lebanon and reveals the inherent contradictions that have plagued that country and made it so vulnerable to both inter-Arab and superpower rivalries. How did a fairly peaceful and resourceful society, with an impressive history of viable pluralism, coexistence, and republicanism, become the site of so much barbarism and incivility? Khalaf argues that historically internal grievances have been magnified or deflected to become the source of international conflict. From the beginning, he shows, foreign interventions have consistently exacerbated internal problems."--BOOK JACKET. The social and political history of Lebanon-despite occasional manifestations of consensus, balance and harmony-has always been characterized by successive outbursts of civil strife and political violence. Samir Khalaf. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [335]-351) And Index.