Abstract:
This thesis studies the evolution of the concept of masculinity in Lebanon from the events leading to the Civil War through the present day. It explores how existential threat catalyzed the development of a hypermasculine ideal constructed against the Muslim "Other" during the war years. In the postwar era, the Maronite identity entered a state of crisis, grasping for a strong leadership that can bring back its waning superiority. The formation of this identity is a product of sectarian struggles shaped by a failed power-sharing political system, a deeply engrained fear of the “Other” who is perceived as different in allegiances, agenda, and vision of Lebanon’s future, division amongst the Maronite community, and a longing for a victory that was not achieved, or yet to be achieved.
Acknowledging the patriarchic and sectarian nature of Lebanon, this study examines the historical and contemporary forces shaping Maronite masculinity. It specifically aims to investigate right-wing tendencies and asks: in an era of political transformations, what constitutes Maronite masculinity today?
