Power-Sharing Systems and International Support

Abstract

This study seeks to examine the constraints associated with consociational powersharing in the context of developing state capacities through internationally sponsored aid programs. It analyzes the Lebanese state's role in implementing international aid through the Lebanese Crisis Response Plan. The primary focus of this research is to ascertain the limitations of decision-making within the consociational state, with particular emphasis on themes of fragmentation and immobilism and their impact on aid implementation effectiveness. By studying the Lebanese Crisis Response Plan, a collaborative initiative to support Lebanon during the Syrian conflict, this research aims to shed light on how consensus-building among the elite inhibits the development of state capacities. By exploring the challenges encountered during the program's implementation within the framework of the consociational Lebanese state, this study aims to provide insights into the potential barriers to effective state operations within the context of power-sharing arrangements.