Abstract:
This thesis examines the role of privatization in the reformation of the Lebanese
confessional and clientelistic system. It provides a detailed assessment of the outcome of
privatization reforms and its politics within the public sector. The assessment is
completed through a series of case studies, in depth interviews, and expert panels with
key stakeholders. The finding sheds light on the different responses by the confessional
regime towards privatization drives as reflected by consecutive Lebanese governments.
The thesis confirms liberal views that privatization may very well undermine public
corruption and political clientelism. It asserts that the downsizing of the public sector
away from the confessional domain of influence may very well prepare the ground for
state-citizen as an alternative to state-confessional cliental relationship. This hypothesis
is further examined through surveying the various political and sectarian affiliations of
selected public sector employees in comparison to those employed by privatized
initiatives such as OGERO and EDL. This thesis concludes with an assertion of liberal
democratic views that suggest that, privatization may very well represent a major reform
avenue for state transition toward deconfessionalization and as a means to undermining
public clientelism in favor of public citizenship.
