Lebanon's Tobacco Control Policy A Network Analysis of the Relationship Between Policy-Relevant Stakeholders

Abstract

Policy-making is a complex process in which multiple actors are involved throughout its different stages, especially in the implementation phase. Tobacco control policy is one major policy example that portrays the complex interlink of roles present among different actors. This paper looks at the case of Lebanon, where the Lebanese parliament approved the Law No. 174 on 17/8/2011 that bans smoking in public places. The law, which was the culmination of concerted efforts of multiple actors, is not yet fully implemented. Our study uses a network analysis tool to understand the relationships among policy actors involved in the implementation of the tobacco control policy. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect quantitative and qualitative data on the contact, flow of money and information exchange among actors. The network structure was assessed based on centrality, betweenness, and density indicators. The network analysis revealed some key structural weaknesses that have hindered implementation efforts, particularly regarding the poor coordination between stakeholders. Our analysis also highlights the central role that the government continues to play, even as non-governmental organizations have asserted themselves more forcefully in the policymaking process.