Lebanon.

Lebanon has a diverse range of religious groups including Sunni and Shi’ite Muslims, Christian sects and Druze. During the 1975 -1990 civil war, these groups – with their increasingly polarised ideological and political views – fragmented to form armed divisions. Neighbouring countries Syria, Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organisation, also fought their own proxy conflict within the country, each sighting regional allegiances or national security issues. A political power-sharing arrangement (the Confessional system) now runs through all levels of government bureaucracy, dividing roles between all four major religious groups, but is based on an out-dated 1930s census.

In 2006, during a month long war between Israel and the Lebanon based Shia Muslim group Hezbollah, the country was bombarded by the Israel Air force – leaving 1200 Lebanese dead and 900,000 displaced. Deep divisions within Lebanon’s political structure remain and sporadic sectarian violence flared again in 2008. Lebanon has struggled to return to the relative peace it enjoyed in the 1990’s, and although historically ideologically neutral, it has become increasingly drawn into regional confrontations and tensions.

Conflict Profile

Background information and analysis of the conflict and political situation in Lebanon

Peacebuilding Organisations

Find information on peacebuilding and conflict resolution organisations working in Lebanon.

Stories

In-depth looks at peacebuilding and conflict in Lebanon. Includes articles and case studies, and information on latest research and news.

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