Inventing Lebanon: Nationalism and the State Under the Mandate (Library of Middle East History)

__Inventing Lebanon__ examines the history behind an idea: a new polity of ‘Greater Lebanon’. It shows how, under the powerful influence of the French Mandate, various groups of the local elite attempted to create what amounted to a new Lebanese nationalism, carving the state into Maronite Christian, Sunni and Shiite power bases. The results only accentuated the divisions already inherent in this multi-ethnic and multi-faith society, and were to pave the way for the instability and wars that have plagued the country ever since. Inventing Lebanon Examines The History Behind An Idea: A New Policy Of 'greater Lebanon'. It Shows How In The 1920s And 1930s, Under The Powerful Influence Of The French Mandate, With Its Own Political And Economic Agenda, Various Groups Of The Local Elite Attempted To Create What Amounted To A New Lebanese Nationalism. This New Nationalism Deliberately Worked Against The Rising Tide Of Arabism And The Equally Threatening Force Of Syrianism, But It Was Crafted By The Clannish And Confessional Considerations Of The Lebanese Elite. The Result Was A State That Was Carved Into Maronite Christian, Sunni And Shiite Power Bases, Only Accentuating The Divisions Already Inherent In This Multi-ethnic And Multi-faith Society. These 'ethnopolitics' Were To Pave The Way For The Instability And Wars That Have Plagued The Country Ever Since, And Are Still So Frighteningly Present There Today.--jacket. Pt. 1. In Search Of A Nation -- Ch. 1. The Present In The Past: From Mt. Lebanon To Greater Lebanon -- Ch. 2. The Past In The Present: Confessionalism Vs. Nationalism -- Pt. 2. In The Shadow Of The Cedar -- Ch. 3. Between Town And Countryside -- Ch. 4. Did The System Create The Zu'ama Or Vice-versa? -- Ch. 5. Maronites And Sunnis Seek Common Ground -- Ch. 6. The Entrenchment Of The Lebanese System: Sunnis And Shi'is After 1936 -- Ch. 7. Toward Independence -- Conclusion: 1943. Kais M. Firro. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [252]-262) And Index. This study examines the history behind an idea: a new polity of “Greater Lebanon”. It shows how, under the powerful influence of the French Mandate, various groups of the local elite attempted to create what amounted to a new Lebanese nationalism, carving the state into Maronite Christian, Sunni and Shiite power bases. The results only accentuated the divisions already inherent in this multi-ethnic and multi-faith society, and were to pave the way for the instability and wars that have plagued the country ever since. In 1844, Maronite bishop Niqula Murad published a short treatise with the long title, Notice historique sur la Nation Maronite et sur ses rapports avec la France, sur la Nation Druze et sur les diverses populations du Mont Liban, in which he sets out how Maronite elites saw of the socio-economic and political future of Mount Lebanon.