World watch: Lebanon

History

Located at the meeting point of three continents, the Eastern Mediterranean coastal region has been an important trading centre at least since Phoenician times, from around 1500 BC. It also has a long history of foreign conquest by, among others, the Romans, Arabs and Ottoman Turks. After the First World War, France administered the region and created the state of Lebanon in 1920, which became fully independent in 1946.

Since then, the country has experienced periods of prosperity as well as years of political turmoil — including a civil war (1975-90). Lebanon has struggled to find peace with its neighbours. It fought a short war with Israel in 2006, and experienced an influx of refugees from Syria (after that country's civil war began in 2011). Disputes with both Israel and Syria are ongoing.

Government

Lebanon is a parliamentary republic, in which politics and religion are deeply intertwined. According to a 1989 agreement, parliamentary seats and appointments to public office are shared equally between Christian and Muslim groups. The Shiite Muslim group Hezbollah (also spelled "Hezbullah" or "Hizbullah") is a major political party and militia, which the US sees as a terrorist organization. In 2022, Hezbollah and its allies lost their parliamentary majority. Currently, the parliament is deeply divided, and no group has a clear majority.

People and languages

With a population of just under 5.3 million, Lebanon has a very heterogeneous society that includes numerous ethnic and religious groups. Roughly two-thirds of people are Muslim and one-third Christian, but each is divided into further subgroups. There are also a number of smaller Jewish and other groups. The official language is Arabic. Other important languages include French, English and Armenian.

Geography and climate

Located between the Mediterranean Sea, Syria and Israel, Lebanon has a total area of 10,400 square kilometres. Its climate is characterized by mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers. Its high mountains often get heavy snowfall in winter.

Economy

Lebanon has a long tradition of finance and commerce. It has a service-oriented economy, in which banking and tourism have been drivers of economic growth. While rebuilding the country after the civil war, the government took on a heavy debt load but has been slow to implement important economic reforms. The conflict in Syria cut off a major market for Lebanon, and its debt has continued to rise. In the current crisis, GDP has shrunk by more than half since 2019. The government's harsh spending cuts and inability to reform have badly damaged consumer and investor confidence, leading to widespread anger and protests that continue to this day.

Sources: The World Factbook, Central Intelligence Agency; The Economist; NPR