LNM-PLO alliance : unified interests, divided power

Abstract

This thesis focuses on the alliance between the Lebanese National Movement (LNM) and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) during the revolutionary period of 1975-1982. Through the practice of Oral History, this thesis inquires into the formation of this alliance, which peaked during the Lebanese Civil War. It will first offer some context to the Civil War and the different factors and players. Following this background, the project will explore first hand accounts and memories regarding how the alliance was formed, the internal dynamics that played out through the course of the alliance, and the role of women in the alliance. Exploring the internal dynamics of the alliance, this thesis will present the sentiments of the participants within different themes. It will explore the political basis of the alliance, which will examine the role of Arab Nationalism, class, anti-Zionism and internal Lebanese politics. Following political orientations, the idea of dependency will be explored which further necessitated the alliance. A general overview of the structure, decision-making, and joint leadership will be laid out and this will then take a look into power dynamics, which led to corruption and at times reckless behavior which presents a further dynamic of patronage and propaganda as the relationship continues. An added dimension that is centrally explored in this paper is the role of women in the movement. This also brings up the conception of social issues within political struggles and calls into question the use of the term liberation. In general, the goal of this thesis is to understand, through the experiences of its participants, the nature of the alliance’s relationship, function and internal dynamics in more depth and from a more popular narration that, as a result, challenges the mainstream approach to writing history, which often is produced from a hegemonic frame.