sectarianism: lebanon (and iraq) pols1270 prof. m. cammett march 15, 2012
TRANSCRIPT
Sectarianism:Lebanon (and Iraq)
POLS1270Prof. M. CammettMarch 15, 2012
The Lebanese Political System
• Structure of representation
• The Ottoman era origins of sectarian power-sharing in Lebanon
• 1943 National Pact
• Electoral system: – Open-list PR– Multi-member districts– “Joint electorates with reserve seats”
• Challenges of the system
• What’s at stake?
Phases of the Lebanese Civil War(s)
• 1975-76: “Two-year war”
• 1977-78: Assassinations
• Late 1970s: Formation of LF
• 1978: Israeli invasion
• 1982: Israeli occupation of Beirut
• 1982+: Formation of Hezbollah (officially, 1985)
• 1985: War of the Camps
• Mid-Late 1980s: Intra-Christian fighting
What does this account tell us about sectarianism in Lebanon?
Why the civil war?
Territories controlled by militias in Lebanon(approx. 1983-1989)
Post-War Politics
• 1990: Ta’if Accord
• Syrian control
• Demilitarization and the Resumption of institutionalized politics
• Reconstruction and its discontents
• Elections– National (1992, 1996, 2000,
2005, 2009)– Municipal (1998, 2004, 2010)
Downtown Beirut, Before & After(Solidère Project)
2005: A Watershed Year
• Feb. 14, 2005: PM Rafiq Hariri assassinated
• Emergence of “March 14th” & “March 8th” Blocs
• Rising “sectarian” tensions
• May 2008: Clashes
• 2008: Doha Accord
The 2009 Elections & their Aftermath
• Dynamics & results of the 2009 elections– Recap: Electoral System– Vote-buying and monitoring
• 2011: Opposition brings down Hariri government PM Najib Mikati
• Anti-sectarian protests
• Why does sectarianism remain entrenched?
Ballot: Metn District (Broumana Precinct)
Iraq: Basic Background
• 1921: Hashemite Monarchy (Faisal I)
• 1930s: Shia rebellions
• 1958: Coup (Qasim/Arif) Republic
• 1963-1968: Rise of Ba’ath, coups/counter-coups
• 1960s/1970s: Kurdish opposition
• 1979: Saddam Hussein
• Wars– Iran-Iraq War (1980-88)– First Gulf War (1991)– Sanctions & their toll– Second Gulf War (2003)
More on Iraq and the dynamics of sectarianism ...