Social Welfare and Religion in the Middle East : A Lebanese Perspective

As religion continues to regain its centrality in both academic and policy circles around the world, this book presents a new framework which examines the complex social and political dynamics shaping social welfare in the Middle East. Based on an in-depth study of the major Muslim and Christian religious welfare organisations in Lebanon (including Hezbollah), and drawing upon supplementary research conducted in Iran, Egypt and Turkey, the book argues that religion is providing sophisticated solutions to the major social and economic problems of the Middle East. It will be of use to students and academics of social policy, sociology, politics and Middle Eastern studies. Social welfare and religion in the Middle East......Page 1 Contents......Page 4 List of tables and figures......Page 6 Acknowledgements......Page 7 List of Arabic words with English translations......Page 8 List of abbreviations......Page 9 Map of the Middle East......Page 10 1. Introduction: religion and social policy – an “old–new” partnership......Page 12 An “old–new” partnership: religion in social policy scholarship......Page 15 Beyond the Rentier state: religion and social policy in the Middle East......Page 19 Aims and scope of the book......Page 24 Definition of terms......Page 26 Organisation of the book......Page 29 A note about the research reported in the book......Page 32 Introduction......Page 36 Human well-being and social ethics in the five major world faiths......Page 39 Contextualising religion in social policy theory and practice......Page 62 A working definition of religious welfare......Page 75 Conclusion: the value of religion to social policy......Page 76 Introduction......Page 80 Lebanon’s political economy – in and out of war......Page 81 Historical overview of social policy in Lebanon......Page 83 Recognising the problem of poverty: social inequality and war......Page 86 Conclusion: religious welfare in Lebanon and beyond......Page 92 Introduction......Page 96 Conceiving social welfare: from human solidarity to identity politics......Page 98 The nature of welfare: social service and religious faith......Page 110 Identities, policy contexts and objectives......Page 131 Social welfare: instrumental or intrinsic value?......Page 144 Conclusion: social service as religious faith and instrumental welfare......Page 145 Introduction......Page 150 Definitions and key policy dilemmas......Page 152 Mechanics and dynamics of service delivery, consumption and evaluation......Page 176 Social welfare as measure of outcomes......Page 186 Treating causes or symptoms of poverty......Page 198 Conclusion: needs reinterpretation and policy focus......Page 203 Introduction......Page 206 Defining the ‘social’: factoring in the sacred......Page 208 Social cohesion: morality and power......Page 211 Social exclusion: what relevance?......Page 223 Social cohesion and social reproduction: two models......Page 225 Conclusion: the place of social cohesion in policy......Page 229 Introduction: theoretical implications of the Lebanese case......Page 234 The Lebanese case: contradictions and hybridism......Page 236 Theoretical implications for the study of social policy in the Middle East......Page 254 Conclusion: basic needs and moral order – primacy of the human being over societal structures......Page 259 Introduction......Page 262 Defining some parameters for the relationship between religion and social policy......Page 264 Overview of current analyses of social policy in the Middle East......Page 267 Some policy implications for Lebanon......Page 268 The Middle East: a future for religious welfare?......Page 269 Conclusion......Page 271 Conclusion......Page 272 Bibliography......Page 280 Appendix A: Lebanon country profile......Page 310 Appendix B: Social protection institutions and coverage......Page 312 Index......Page 314 For a region which usually occupies media headlines and academic enquiry with concerns over global security and the supply of petroleum oil, the Middle East would appear averse to any talk of progressive social policy. But below the hard-hitting headlines, what do local Middle Eastern populations think of social welfare, equality and solidarity? The original analysis in this book presents a new and comprehensive narrative of social welfare in the Middle East through an examination of the role of religious welfare. Religion is, arguably, the longest and most dynamic surviving force of social and political action in the region. Based on an in-depth study of the major Muslim and Christian religious welfare organisations in Lebanon (including Hezbollah), and drawing upon supplementary research conducted in Iran, Egypt and Turkey, the book argues that religion - whether through the state apparatus, civil society organisations or populist religious movements - is providing sophisticated solutions to the major social and economic problems of the Middle East. As religion continues to regain its centrality in both academic and policy circles around the world, this book presents a new framework which examines the complex social and political dynamics shaping social welfare in the Middle East. It also opens up broader debate on the role of faith-based welfare in the changing social policy landscape. "Social Welfare and Religion in the Middle East" will be of use to students and academics of social policy, sociology, politics and Middle Eastern studies. It will also provide a useful introduction to the reality of development and social policy in the region to practitioners and policy-makers who are active in the Middle East, or are seeking to engage with faith-based organisations