Social Unrest: The Struggles of Lebanon
- We Unite
- Aug 6, 2020
- 4 min read
Updated: Oct 1, 2020
Lebanon is said to be one of the ‘most democratic countries’ in the Arabic world. Its political system, the consensus democracy, is supposed to enhance the political, social and economic equality between the religious and ethnic groups living in the country. Unfortunately, during this last decade especially, the political system itself is blocking reforms and creating tension in society and between ethical and religious groups. Thus, it works exclusively rather than inclusively and fails to perform its basic ideology. The system that is supposed to create equality has created a deadlock in parliament and is responsible for growing social and economic tensions concerning the dissimilar economic situation between the Shiite, Sunnite and Christian population. The Lebanese society is plagued with corruption which harmfully impacts its citizens.
In addition, not only is the current government inactive, its parliament has also unconstitutionally renewed its own mandate twice already. State institutions have become unable to act, leaving basic responsibilities unfulfilled. The government is not able to address those problems due to its deadlock. The crisis concerning rubbish in Beirut in August/September 2015 is representative of the many problems Lebanon is currently facing. This has placed a great burden among Lebanese citizens, greatly damaging their way of life.
Protests over corruption and political dysfunction are growing in Lebanon and the current rubbish crisis is representative for Lebanon’s deep political crisis. The rubbish crisis in Beirut started when the government closed the capital’s main rubbish landfill in July 2015, without implementing an alternative. The Naameh landfill was already supposed to be closed in 2004, but government inaction kept it in use. Now, it is filled far beyond capacity. Criticism of the cabinet’s waste management started on social media, but soon activists and residents protested on the streets of Beirut.
Some Lebanese police also make use of water cannons, tear gas and rubber bullets during peaceful protests. This practice left some civilians greatly injured, growing more pent up frustrations from the public. This served as a catalyst, pushing many other citizens to protest as well. Even though many Lebanese have adapted to the state malfunction and state institutions have been replaced by privatized alternatives, a state-initiated solution to the garbage crisis is inevitable. The political divisions and disagreements are so deep rooted that basic needs of the citizens cannot be secured. This increases the possible influence of nongovernmental organizations and creates a lack of transparency concerning corruption.
In 2014, charges and prosecutions against journalists and bloggers declined freedom of expression, due to a law that made criticizing the Lebanese President or army a criminal offense in Lebanon, which can carry a jail sentence. The definition of ‘criticism’ and ‘defamation’ are relatively open and legitimize law enforcement against journalists and news outlets.
Furthermore, women are heavily discriminated against under Lebanese Law, for example by being denied the right to pass their nationality to their children. Additionally, they face discrimination in the public sphere concerning harassment, wages and social practice. Corruption in Lebanon is present in all sectors of society and government and it exists in all forms- bribery, nepotism, favoritism, patronage, embezzlement and vote buying. The causes behind the increase in corruption are various, but due to the government shutdown and the privatization of many governmental tasks, there is a decreased transparency and corruption can occur more easily.
Currently with the Beirut explosion which has severely impacted thousands of people all over the country, the crises in Lebanon just never seems to end. Lebanon's cabinet declared a two-week state of emergency in the capital city and handed control of security in the capital to the military. The explosion on Tuesday sent shockwaves across the city, causing widespread damage as far as the outskirts of Beirut. The death toll is expected to rise further as emergency workers are diggoing through the rubble to search for survivors. Beirut's city governor Marwan Abboud said up to 300,000 people have lost their homes and authorities are working on providing them with food, water and shelter. The cause of the explosion was not immediately clear. However, credible sources have linked the blast to some 2,750 tonnes of confiscated ammonium nitrate that were being stored in a warehouse at the port for six years.
Witnesses mentioned that the explosion had taken out all the windows in the surrounding area, and described numerous injured and bloodied people walking around “in a daze.” The Lebanese Red Cross said that hundreds of people have been rushed to hospitals, and an “urgent call for blood donations” are urgently needed at transfusion centers across Lebanon. Beirut’s hospitals have been overwhelmed, with local reporters tweeting images of medical staff treating patients in a parking lot.
Lebanon is already in the midst of one of its most detrimental economic crises in history. Crippling debt, a currency in free fall, skyrocketing unemployment and entrenched corruption by political elites have triggered widespread and enduring social and political unrest. Daily power outages and a nationwide pollution problem preceded, and now worsen, the current public health crisis. Popular protests erupted across the country last October demanding an overhaul of the government, forcing then-Prime Minister Saad Hariri to resign. The protests, initially peaceful, were seen by many inside and out of the country as a sign of a new beginning for an improved future. But since then, conditions have only worsened, with the pandemic shattering business and tourism for the country and continued financial mismanagement eviscerating the value of the Lebanese lira.
To help Lebanon in the midst of its current crisis, use this link: https://lebanoncrisis.carrd.co
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Written by Althea Ocomen from Manila City, Philippines
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