Civil War 1975 – 1990Conflict erupts after a bus attack by a Christian

militia, the Phalangists

Timeline1516- 1918 – Lebanon part of the Ottoman Empire

1920 – The League of Nations grants the mandate for Lebanon and Syria to France

1926 – Lebanese Representative Council approves a constitution and the unified Lebanese Republic under the French mandate is declared.

Constitution affirmed:

• Lebanon as an Arab nation.• Confessional state: a government in

which power is proportioned off to different religious communities and politicians run along religious affiliation.

In 1943

The president is to be a Maronite Christian, the prime minister a Sunni Muslim, the Speaker of the Parliament a Shia Muslim and the Deputy Speaker a Greek Orthodox.

Seats in the parliament are distributed on a ratio of six-to-five in favour of Christians. This was later extended to other public offices. Based on the 1932 census.

1944 - Independence from France

1958 - Faced with increasing opposition which develops into a civil war, President Camille Chamoun asks the US to send troops to preserve Lebanon's independence. The US sends marines.

1967 - Lebanon plays no active role in the Arab-Israeli war but is to be affected by its aftermath when Palestinians use Lebanon as a base for attacks on Israel.

A consociational democracy• major internal divisions along religious lines with none

of the divisions large enough to form a majority group,

• was based on cooperation and moderation among mainly Maronite and Sunni elites, but :

the government was weak and institutionalized the sectarian differences.

• despite this the Lebanese political system established order from 1943 until 1975, weathering the crisis of 1958.

Several developments in the 1960s undermined the precarious Lebanese republic.

1. economic inequalities. The Lebanese economy was characterized by free trade, low industrialization, low taxation, and minimal state intervention. Economic differences overlapped with religious differences: Christians benefited from the economic growth, the Shia remained at the bottom of the socioeconomic ladder.

2. demographic trends changed the population ratio between sects.

• The Shia had the highest fertility rate, followed by the Sunnis.

• The distribution of political power, which was based on the 1932 census, ceased to reflect demographic realities thus the Muslims demand institutional reforms.

• The rise of radical and populist forces undermined the power of the traditional Sunni and Shia elites.

3. regional events put immense burdens on the Lebanese political system.

• The rise of Arab nationalism in the 1950s exacerbated the sectarian tensions in Lebanon.

• Although Sunni Muslims were supportive of the anti-western policies of Egyptian president Gamal Abdel Nasser (1918–1970), ), the Maronite president Chamoun refused to allow Lebanon to join the pro-Nasser camp.

• Lebanon was on the brink of civil war in 1958 when the Maronite president asked for help from the United States.

1967 Six Days War

• Lebanon plays no active role in the Arab-Israeli war but is affected by its aftermath when Palestinians use Lebanon as a base for attacks on Israel.

• The PLO in Lebanon provoked Christian resentment because it changed the demographic ratio to the disadvantage of Christians, and it brought fierce reprisals from the Israelis, who held the Lebanese government responsible for the actions of the Palestinians.

• The Lebanese army was unable to control the PLO or to defend the country against Israeli attacks.

• The insecurity in southern Lebanon led to the dislocation of Shia villagers to urban peripheries.

• After Hafez al-Assad (1930–2000) assumed the

presidency of Syria in 1970, Syria pursued a more assertive and ambitious foreign policy in Lebanon. The ruling Alawite minority perceived the Shia of Lebanon as a counterweight against the Sunni majority of Syria and the Palestinians.

Find out about:• The Maronites / the Phalangists / Pierre Gemayel

/ Camille Chamoun• Lebanese Forces / Bashir Gemayel• Hezbollah / Amal • PLO / Yassir Arafat• Alawite / Hafez al-Assad• Druze / Jumblatt / Lebanese National Movement• ”Peace for Galilee” / Menachim Begin• Taif Accord 1989 / Michel Aoun

Sources

• http://www.lonelyplanet.com/maps/middle-east/lebanon/

• http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-14647308