Abstract:
Although there is a plethora of work examining Kamal Jumblatt‟s political career, none
explains a major puzzle in this career: namely, the radical change in his stance vis-à-vis the
Lebanese political system and prospects of reforming it. In the early 1970s, Jumblatt began
to lose hope in gradually reforming the political system, something he had been calling and
working for over the past three decades. From a believer in reforms from within the
system, he later became an advocate of a radical change that would do away with the
sectarian system altogether. Furthermore, Jumblatt, known as a peaceful person, also
championed during the early years of Lebanon‟s civil war inflicting a decisive military
defeat against the Christian parties opposed to radical political reforms. This thesis
explains why Jumblatt made this change in his political stance, its timing, and whether or
not it was motivated by any personal ambitions.
