Sectarianism:Lebanon (and Iraq)

POLS1270Prof. M. CammettMarch 15, 2012

The Lebanese Political System

• Structure of representation

• The Ottoman era origins of sectarian power-sharing in Lebanon

• 1943 National Pact

• Electoral system: – Open-list PR– Multi-member districts– “Joint electorates with reserve seats”

• Challenges of the system

• What’s at stake?

Phases of the Lebanese Civil War(s)

• 1975-76: “Two-year war”

• 1977-78: Assassinations

• Late 1970s: Formation of LF

• 1978: Israeli invasion

• 1982: Israeli occupation of Beirut

• 1982+: Formation of Hezbollah (officially, 1985)

• 1985: War of the Camps

• Mid-Late 1980s: Intra-Christian fighting

What does this account tell us about sectarianism in Lebanon?

Why the civil war?

Territories controlled by militias in Lebanon(approx. 1983-1989)

Post-War Politics

• 1990: Ta’if Accord

• Syrian control

• Demilitarization and the Resumption of institutionalized politics

• Reconstruction and its discontents

• Elections– National (1992, 1996, 2000,

2005, 2009)– Municipal (1998, 2004, 2010)

Downtown Beirut, Before & After(Solidère Project)

2005: A Watershed Year

• Feb. 14, 2005: PM Rafiq Hariri assassinated

• Emergence of “March 14th” & “March 8th” Blocs

• Rising “sectarian” tensions

• May 2008: Clashes

• 2008: Doha Accord

The 2009 Elections & their Aftermath

• Dynamics & results of the 2009 elections– Recap: Electoral System– Vote-buying and monitoring

• 2011: Opposition brings down Hariri government PM Najib Mikati

• Anti-sectarian protests

• Why does sectarianism remain entrenched?

Ballot: Metn District (Broumana Precinct)

Iraq: Basic Background

• 1921: Hashemite Monarchy (Faisal I)

• 1930s: Shia rebellions

• 1958: Coup (Qasim/Arif) Republic

• 1963-1968: Rise of Ba’ath, coups/counter-coups

• 1960s/1970s: Kurdish opposition

• 1979: Saddam Hussein

• Wars– Iran-Iraq War (1980-88)– First Gulf War (1991)– Sanctions & their toll– Second Gulf War (2003)

More on Iraq and the dynamics of sectarianism ...