The institutional dynamics of sectarianism. (c2011)

Abstract

This thesis investigates how Lebanese institutions construct a sectarian culture that deepens sectarian identities and strengthens citizens’ allegiance to sectarian leaders. To this end, the thesis examines how the sectarian educational system and personal status laws manufacture and perpetuate this sectarian culture. It delineates how sectarian elites manipulate these institutions to serve their own interests and entrench a clientelist system. Hence, this study demonstrates how the resilience of non-democratic norms in Lebanon has less to do with political culture or a resilient Lebanese sectarian mind. Rather it is sectarian institutions that impede the creation of a democratic society and hinder reforms. By examining the dynamics of sectarian institutions, this study shows how Lebanese citizens are divided into sectarian groups embracing sectarian identities rather than a trans-sectarian national Lebanese identity. This thesis examines how sectarian elites control the educational system and personal status laws to embed sectarian identities. Rather than reforming the educational system, sectarian elites hindered the formation of a new unified history book, published civic education books that do not create a sense of citizenship, and reinstated religious education. Moreover, each sectarian elite has established his own Lebanese University branch which weakened the national identity of the university and hardened sectarian allegiances. The thesis also examines how personal status laws in Lebanon oblige the Lebanese citizens to belong to a specific sect and abide by its regulations. Civil marriage is forbidden in Lebanon which forces the Lebanese people wishing to receive a civil marriage to travel and follow foreign laws. Sectarian elites have blocked numerous attempts to adopt an optional civil personal status law. This has limited intersectarian marriages and increased the sense of belonging to a sect. Finally, this study proposes secularism as an alternative to the Lebanese political system and suggests several workable recommendations to change the sectarian system.