Mémoire
| Résumé : | Once considered the Switzerland of the Middle East, Lebanon is currently experiencing an unprecedented economic and political crisis. Its political system, known as confessionalism and institutionalised by the Ta’if agreements after the 1975-1990 civil war with the mediation of Saudi Arabia, aims to represent the country’s different ethnic-religious communities and ensure harmonisation among the population. Paradoxically, instead of guaranteeing harmony and stability in the country, this political system has only aggravated tensions between religious factions. The internal discord is certainly considerable, but there is another dimension that is contributing to Lebanon’s impasse and that cannot be neglected: the interference of foreign actors on domestic affairs. After the withdrawal of Syrian troops, Lebanon has entered a new phase which sees the emergence of a demand for change within society. On October 17, 2019, the implementation of a tax on WhatsApp pushed the Lebanese population to demonstrate against the corrupted political elite. However, after several weeks of euphoria and protests, the country has fallen back into political and economic stagnation. In a context of internal crisis and regional conflicts between Iran and the Gulf monarchies, Lebanon’s future as a united nation is questioned. This article aims to demonstrate how the interference of external factors can contribute to the political instability of Lebanon, fuelled by the prevailing political system that pushes politicians to turn to foreign allies to achieve their goals. The countries selected for this study are the following: France, the United States, Iran, Syria, Saudi Arabia, and the Gulf States. The country’s strategic geographical position pushes these countries to fight for influence over Lebanon. However, recently, there is another actor joining the geopolitical game, namely China. |
