The relationship between clans and Lebanon’s system of public administration :a preliminary framework of analysis -

Abstract

This thesis seeks to bridge a gap between Middle East studies of public administration and the discipline of Public Administration through an exploration of how clans influence administrative processes in the Middle East. To address this oversight, a review of the literature was undertaken to create a preliminary framework that would provide insights into how clans interact with the administrative structures of the state. This preliminary framework has three nested levels: the operational environment; the dynamics of the clan; and the processes of infiltration. Taking the Republic of Lebanon as a case study, this thesis evaluated this preliminary framework by addressing three research questions. First, what is the operational environment within which clans operates? Second, what are the dynamics of the clan, meaning how are they organized and how do they interact with others in the operational environment? Third, what are the processes by which clans infiltrate the states administrative structures? These questions were addressed by conducting a series of semi-structured interviews with twenty-five individuals who work within Lebanon’s public sector. The interview data was transcribed and coded using the techniques of grounded theory. The findings largely support the validity of the preliminary framework, which was modified to include details of the mechanisms that clans use to exert influence throughout Lebanon’s administrative system. While still in a preliminary form, future research will clarify the elements of the framework and evaluate applicability of the framework in a broader Middle Easter context.