Cultural Background of Lebanon

In 1975-1976, an estimated 60,000 were killed and billions of dollars of damage (centered in Beirut) inflicted in a civil war; Palestinian and left-wing Muslims fought against the Maronite (Christian) militia, the Phalange. Several Arab countries provided political and arms support to the various factors, with Israel aiding Christian forces. A cease-fire was policed primarily by Syria. In 1981, immature outbreaks of fighting amid Syrian troops and Christian forces took get in; Israel invaded in June of 1982, with tensions remaining high throughout the 1980s and into the primordial 1990s (World farmer's calendar & Book of Facts, 2000). In May and June of 1998 the artless held its first municipal elections in 35 years, and Lebanese build up forces chief Emile Lahoud was elected chair October 15, 1998 with Syrian approval (World Almanac & Book of Facts, 2000). This admittedly brief historical background paints a picture of a country deeply divided along religious and class lines and subject to intervention by its to a greater extent powerful neighbors (particularly Israel and Syria, both of which have maintained a strengthened military presence in the country for the past ternary or more decades).

Functioning of Present Political System

Lebanon has do progress toward rebuilding its political institutions since the end of the 16-ye

The central challenges facing Lebanon at the present condemnation are economic and political and nature. On the one hand, as Azzi (1999) notes, the government needs to take steps to reduce a number of economic inequities and problems if it is to continue its progress toward growth and reconstruction. On the other hand, the planned Israeli withdrawal and the continued act upon (not to say dominance) of Syria are troubling. Tensions between the various religious sects -- and the probable determination of Hizbollah to remain armed and "alert" as well as aggressive toward Israel -- also complicates the prospects for peace in coming years.

Lebanon faces numerous challenges, any one of which has the potential to cut off the tenuous peace achieved in the country (Ellis, 1999). Equally noteworthy is the question of the Middle East Peace Process itself, with Lebanon's propinquity to Israel rendering it vulnerable in any re freshlyed conflicts between the Arabs or Palestinians and the Israelis.

The head of government, President Lahoud (in office since November 24, 1988), was elected by the subject area Assembly for a six-year term and re-elected in 1998; new elections are scheduled to be held in 2004. By custom, the electric chair is a Maronite Christian, with the prime minister appointed by the president in consultation with the National Assembly (currently Salim Al-Huss) a Sunni Muslim, and the alternate prime minister (also appointed by the president a Shi'a Muslim. The console table is chosen by the prime minister in consultation with the president and members of the National Assembly; the current cabinet was formed in 1998 (CIA, 2000). Lahoud was elected to the presidency by the National Assembly in 1998 with a vote of 118 in favor, 0 against, and 10 abstentions.

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