Open AccessConsociational Democracy in Lebanon: Modern Challenges and Development Prospects
Author(s) -
A. A. Kerimov,
Керимов Арсений Александрович
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
vestnik rossijskogo universiteta družby narodov. seriâ politologiâ
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2313-1446
pISSN - 2313-1438
DOI - 10.22363/2313-1438-2021-23-3-364-378
Subject(s) - democracy , politics , political science , political system , confessional , political economy , ideal (ethics) , comparative politics , strengths and weaknesses , development economics , sociology , law , epistemology , economics , philosophy
This article explores some key problems of the organization and operation of the Lebanese confessional political system. The study is carried out within the framework of the comparative approach and, in essence, is a comparison of the Lebanese realities with the ideal type of consociational democracy in order to identify country specific features and find ways to overcome the growing instability. Arend Lijpharts consociational theory is used as the main analytical tool. Based on the analysis of the formation and development of the Lebanese consociational system, the study identifies its historical roots, as well as its strengths and weaknesses. The article examines the internal and external causes of the Lebanese political crises and assesses the possible ways of evolution of the countrys political regime, including the prospects for the transformation of consociational democracy into a civil one. When applied to Lebanon, the terms consociationalism and political confessionalism are used as synonyms.