Desectarianization in Lebanon : structural impediments and the agency of religious leaders

Ghazal, Elias and Mabon, Simon (2024) Desectarianization in Lebanon : structural impediments and the agency of religious leaders. PhD thesis, Lancaster University.

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Abstract

This thesis examines the multifaceted issue of sectarianism and its negative effects on political stability, economic development, and social cohesion in the country. Using a constructivist framework, this thesis aims to contribute to the existing literature on desectarianization by analyzing the specific context of Lebanon. It identifies three categories of structures that facilitate sectarianization and impede the process of desectarianization: domestic structures, geopolitical structures, and normative structures. Domestic structures involve formal and informal domestic systems that privilege sectarian identities and patronage networks in Lebanon. Geopolitical structures refer to regional dynamics that deepen sectarian divisions. Normative structures encompass social constructs, like mistrust and the absence of inclusive citizenship education, which hinder effective desectarianization. The thesis explores the capacity of religious leaders to act as desectarianization actors to circumvent those structural impediments. Special focus is given to the agency of Shiite clergymen in the Lebanese context.