Time l ine : Civil War Catal ys t s

• 1958: Arab Nationalism Culminates in the Summer of 1958 Rebellion; the Lebanese Government Benefits from US Intervention

1969: Agreement Between the Lebanese Government and the PLO Permits the PLO to Supervise Palestinian Refugee Camps in South Lebanon

• 1970: After Black September, Raids by the PLO into Israel and Subsequent Retaliation Begin

• 1970s: Muslims (Especially the Shi’a) Called for a Redraft of the Constitution According to Demographic Changes

• 1974: PLO’s Activities Inspired the Shi’as, Who Form the Amal Movement in 1974 to Promote Their Political and Economic Status: ‘Movement of the Dispossessed’ (Later to Become Hezbollah)

Regions of Lebanon

ShiaMaronite & Druze

Sunni

Shia

Intra-LebanonDivision of

LaborCore-Periphery

Relationship

So c io -Ec o no mic Gaps• In the 1950s, the Middle and Upper Class Captured

80% of the National Income.

the Poor and Very Poor (50% of the Population) Garnered 18% of Lebanon’s Income.

• The Richest 4% Earned 33% of the Income.

• A Middle Class Emerged in Beirut and the Mount; Class Distinctions were more Evident in Landlord-Dominated Rural Areas.

• Sectarian Implications

• Poverty Levels Today: (Living Conditions Index)

Pl ac e Lo w Int e r mediat e Hig h

Be ir ut 1 8 .4 3 8 .7 4 3 .0Beir ut Subur bs 2 4 .7 4 3 .6 3 1 .7

Remaining Mo unt 4 3 .8 3 7 .6 1 8 .7Lebano n No r th 3 6 .9 4 4 .7 1 8 .4Lebano n S o uth 5 1 .0 3 9 .8 9 .3

Nabat ieh 4 0 .6 4 3 .3 1 5 .9Bekaa 3 2 .1 4 1 .6 2 6 .4

Beir ut : “ Jewe l in t he Cr o wn o f t he Empir e ” Empir e ”

Beir ut : Ec o no mic Divides

No r th-S o uth Divide

Summer o f 2 0 0 6 : BBC Pho to s

• http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/06/in_pictures_beirut_to_southern_lebanon/html/1.stm

Cur r ent s tatus• Elections and attempts to create stability since

the Civil War

Talif Accord (1989) gave equal christian-Muslim representation in parliament; consolidated the power of the Sunni Prime Minister and Sunni Prime Minister and Shiite Speaker at the expense of the Maronite President

• The last president stood down in November 2007 after parliament failed to agree on a successor

• BBC news clip http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/check/player/nol/newsid_7100000/newsid_7108600?redirect=7108638.stm&news=1&bbwm=1&bbram=1&nbwm=1&nbram=1&asb=1