Description
Book SynopsisFor fifteen years, Lebanon's disparate confessional groups waged a bloody and protracted civil war. Still today, power-sharing between Sunni, Shi'i, Christian and Druze groups is a precarious balance, greatly affected by and in turn affecting events across the Middle East. But even during times of conflict, Lebanon's communities have managed a modicum of coexistence: agreeing on the importance of maintaining the Lebanese state and sharing the fear of being the player left standing in a macabre game of musical chairs. Tracing the origins of the civil war, Theodor Hanf shows that it was primarily a surrogate war over Palestine which escalated into a conflict between the diverse Lebanese communities. Hanf's central theme is the problem of conflict and conflict regulation between these groups, a theme which continues to have resonance over two decades since the end of the civil war. This highly influential book - now available in a paperback edition - delves into vital issues, such as how conflicts were peacefully regulated before the war, and how the country came to be a battlefield for proxy wars and analyses the prospects for permanent coexistence.
Trade Review'This massive work is an important scholarly contribution to our knowledge of Lebanon and its war. The book is a product of years of labour, and the author's tremendous knowledge is effectively woven into the narrative.' International Journal of Middle East Studies One of the best books to be written about theLebanese conflict.' Karl Sharro 'Theodor Hanf brings a deep understanding of Lebanon - If you want to read only one book on Lebanon, this is it.' Nadim Shehadi, Director, Fares Centre, The Fletcher School, Tufts University
Table of ContentsPreface to the Paperback Edition Introduction: One Too Many People in the Levant? Chapter 1: Conflict Regulation and Crises in Multi-Communal States: The Proliferation of Multi-Communal States in the Twentieth Century Chapter 2: The ‘Lebanese Model’: Coexistence in Pre-War Lebanon Chapter 3: The Clouding Horizon: Non-Lebanese Factors of Conflict Chapter 4: Danse Macabre 1975-1988: Parties, Masks and Steps Chapter 5: Violence without Victory: Forms, Costs and Consequences of War Chapter 6: Foxes and Lions: Politicians and Militia Chapter 7: Coexistence in War: Attitudes and Opinions of Economically Active Lebanese, 1981-1987 Chapter 8: A Revocable Covenant: A Preliminary Synopsis Chapter 9: The Disintegration of the State: The Road to Dependence, 1988-1990 Chapter 10: The Two Faces of the Second Republic: Trappings of Sovereignty, 1990-1992 Chapter 11: The Emergence of a Nation: Epilogue and Conjectures
