Civil Society’s Limitations in Leveraging Coherent and Efficient State Public Policies Addressing the Issues of Syrian Refugees in Lebanon

Abstract

The fall of the Assad regime in December 2024 marked a turning point in the Syrian refugee crisis, significantly impacting displaced Syrians and their host countries, including Lebanon. Over the past 13 years, Lebanon has hosted a large Syrian refugee population but has consistently refused to grant them formal refugee status, leading to widespread human rights abuses and policy failures. Civil society organizations (CSOs) have actively advocated for alternative approaches to address these challenges. However, their efforts have achieved limited success, hindered by Lebanon’s weak institutional capacity, political fragmentation, and dependence on international aid. Additionally, a lack of institutional accountability, entrenched political sectarianism, and pervasive anti-refugee narratives in public discourse have further constrained their influence on Lebanese policymaking. Many CSOs have also shifted their positions to align with national interests, compromising their commitment to defending refugee rights.