Abstract:
This thesis examines the role of the Armenian community in ending the Civil War and in
the negotiation of a new, postwar, power-sharing agreement. It does so by analyzing the
circumstances that led to the adoption of positive neutrality by the Armenian
community, and highlights the main principles upon which the Armenian political
parties articulated their policies in Lebanese internal politics. The thesis also explores the
role played by the Armenian political parties in the drafting of the Ta’ef agreement, and
the reform plans they initiated and presented to the Lebanese warring parties to end the
internal conflict. This thesis contends that by adopting the policy of positive neutrality,
the Armenians not only contributed to national reconciliation, but also played a central
role in protecting the consociational political system.
