The Elyssar Project in Lebanon

Abstract

Following the Taif Agreement in 1989 and the establishment of the Rafic Hariri-led governments from 1992 to 1998, reconstruction became a key word in the Lebanese political discourse. This reconstruction was depicted as a solution to the postwar city's challenges as well as a vehicle for positive social and political transformation. The post-war experiences in Lebanon provided a vivid case study of the neoliberal ideology's obvious ambiguities and inconsistencies. This thesis provides a detailed analysis of the Elyssar project, a major urban development project that focused on rebuilding Beirut’s Southwestern areas. It is an important project to examine in order to show that Elyssar was anchored in a model that combined elements of sectarian politics with neoliberal thinking. The research examines why Elyssar has been stalled for decades highlighting the hazy boundary that existed in postwar Lebanon between political objectives, architecture, and private interests. Our findings reveal the influence of sectarianism on urban development initiatives and how it is enforced through large-scale urban initiatives in Lebanon.