The Absent Leviathan: The Fate of Power Sharing in Lebanon

Abstract

This thesis critically examines the underlying reasons behind the failure of Lebanon's political system in regulating internal conflicts and assesses if the current political framework is salvageable. Furthermore, it examines the possibility of a new power-sharing agreement to effectively address internal conflicts, requiring the alignment of both internal and external interests. This study finds that Lebanon grapples with a costly sectarian governance system that breeds persistent internal conflict and deadlocks, necessitating external intervention for stability and the preservation of power sharing. The system has also facilitated elite capture of state institutions and widespread corruption. This, combined with the presence of an armed non-state actor within the political system, has significantly weakened the state. Furthermore, the elites' lack of political will to implement reforms and their persistence in maintaining the dysfunctional status quo have pushed the existing political structure to an irreparable state.