Abstract:
This study examines the ongoing tensions surrounding the repatriation of Syrian
refugees and its destabilizing effect on Lebanon’s political system. Since the onset of the
Syrian civil war in 2011, approximately 1.7 million Syrians sought refuge in Lebanon.
Initially, a significant portion of the Lebanese government supported these refugees on
humanitarian grounds. However, the protracted presence of refugees has strained
Lebanon’s fragile political system, leading to conflicting perspectives between Lebanon
and the international community. While international actors advocate for securing refugees'
settlement and upholding their rights, Lebanon maintains a stance prioritizing their return
to Syria, citing national sovereignty and security concerns. The central research question of this study asks: How has the influx of Syrian refugees
influenced Lebanon's political discourse on national sovereignty, and what are the tensions
between Lebanon’s policy responses and its international legal obligations? This study will
explore Lebanon’s internal divisions on the issue and the ways in which external pressures
shape its policy towards refugees. The research also interrogates whether Lebanon’s
sovereignty is being compromised by international interventions and the continued
settlement of refugees, ultimately impacting the country’s political, economic, and
demographic stability. The study argues that without constructive dialogue between the
Lebanese government and international actors, the impasse on Syrian refugees will persist,
exacerbating Lebanon’s ongoing economic crisis and political fragmentation.
