Lebanon and the Arab Uprisings

Maximilian Felsch is Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science at Haigazian University, Beirut, Lebanon.Martin Wählisch serves as Political Affairs Officer for the United Nations in the Office of the Special Coordinator for Lebanon and is an affiliated scholar of the Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs at the American University of Beirut, Lebanon.

• Introduction 1. Lebanon and the Arab Uprisings: In the Eye of the HurricaneMartin Wählisch and Maximilian FelschPart I: Stability, Unity and Confessional Balance2. Lebanon’s Consociational Politics in the Post-2011 Middle East: The Paradox of ResilienceTamirace Fakhoury3. The Role of Hizbullah in the Syrian ConflictMagnus Ranstorp 4. Jihadism in Lebanon after the Syrian Uprising Aaron Y. Zelin5. The Rise of Christian Nationalism in LebanonMaximilian FelschPart II: Humanitarian, Economic and Social Challenges6. Syrian Refugees in Lebanon: Coping with Unprecedented ChallengesSam van Vliet7. The Blind Spot: Palestinian Refugees from Syria in LebanonDaniel Meier8. The Economic Cost of the Arab Uprising on the Lebanese EconomyMarcus Marktanner, Maureen E. Wilson and Sandra El-Saghir9. The Fight for Oil and Gas: Regional Rivalry, the Arab Uprisings and Lebanon’s Energy SectorIsabella RublePart III: Foreign Policy, Regional Ties and International Relations10. Lebanese Foreign Policy and the Arab UprisingsHenrietta Wilkins11. Syrian-Lebanese Relations: The Impossible Dissociation between Lebanon and SyriaCarsten Wieland12. U.S.-Lebanese Relations: Long-term SchizophreniaJennifer Skulte-Ouaiss 13. EU-Lebanese Relations: Shifting EU Policies in the Aftermath of the Arab Uprisings?Julian Pänke

"Waehlisch, Felsch and their contributing authors, have produced a book on Lebanon today that is as dynamic, diverse and absorbing as the country itself. It captures both the subtle and blunt workings of the Lebanese governance system that is unique, sometimes frustrating, but certifiably durable to date. This book clarifies how Lebanon works and how it has weathered recent Middle Eastern upheavals and wars, while also shedding light on important regional dynamics that are central actors in the country. It is essential reading for anyone interested in Lebanon today." Rami G. Khouri, American University of Beirut, Lebanon / Harvard Kennedy School, USA. "In the upheavals that have transformed the Middle East over the past five years, Lebanon has been uncharacteristically absent from the headlines. And yet, the Arab uprisings have had a tremendous impact upon the country. This excellent collection of essays explores the legacy of the Syrian civil war and other regional conflicts upon Lebanon's demographic balance, political contract, infrastructure and social services, foreign policy, and economy. It is an essential text for any scholar, policymaker, or general reader concerned with Lebanon and its future." Elias Muhanna, Brown University, USA.