Conference Presentations by Abbas Assi
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The year 2005 can be considered as a turning point in the political process of Lebanon. The withd... more The year 2005 can be considered as a turning point in the political process of Lebanon. The withdrawal of Syrian forces and the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in 2005 had dramatic implications at political and sectarian levels. The withdrawal of Syrian forces was widely seen as a moment of great opportunity, providing the country with a chance to mould its own destiny without foreign tutelage for the first time in many decades. However, these hopes did not materialize. The political and factional conflicts between sectarian parties, which erupted after 2005, have since then led to deep sectarian fragmentation, punctuated by episodes of sectarian violence, and encouraged foreign intervention. In his book, titled ‘Democracy in Lebanon: Political Parties and the Struggle for Power since Syrian Withdrawal’ (I.B. Tauris, 2016), Assi examines the obstacles that impeded the democratization process in the country. He argues that the intersection of inter- and intra-sectarian conflicts with external factors negatively influenced the behavior of political parties and increased their intransigence regarding the initiation of genuine democratic reforms.
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This presentation aims to explore the implications of the Syrian conflict on the Lebanese parliam... more This presentation aims to explore the implications of the Syrian conflict on the Lebanese parliamentary elections that were supposed to be held in June 2013. It will argue that the Syrian conflict left two main negative implications on the behaviour of the Lebanese political parties which led them to postpone the elections. Firstly, the sectarian political parties (Sunni, Shiite, Druze and Christian parties) capitalised on this conflict to change the balance of power between their regional patrons which will be mirrored at the domestic level. This had encouraged mutual intransigence to reach compromises, in particular on their ability to formulate a new electoral law. Secondly, their betting on the Syrian conflict motivated them to postpone the parliamentary elections after their failure to formulate a new electoral law. Each coalition (March 14 and March 8 coalitions) is awaiting the developments in Syria to change into its interests which will help strengthen its domestic position to negotiate a new electoral law that secures its victory in the elections. To be able to explore the implications of the Syrian conflict on the parliamentary elections, the presentation will argue that the intersection of inter- and intra-sectarian conflicts with the implications of the Syrian conflict influenced negatively the Lebanese political parties’ behaviour and led them to postpone the elections.
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Books by Abbas Assi
I.B. Tauris, 2016
The 'Cedar Revolution' in Lebanon, which was sparked by the assassination of former Prime Ministe... more The 'Cedar Revolution' in Lebanon, which was sparked by the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri on 14 February 2005, was seen by many as an opportunity for Lebanon's fragile political system to move towards a more stable form of democracy. But contrary to these expectations, in the years since Syrian military withdrawal in April 2005, Lebanon has been plagued with sectarian and political unrest and conflict. Abbas Assi here explores the obstacles that impeded the democratic transition process and how subsequent events since 2005 (such as the passing of UNSCR 1559, the 2006 Hizbullah-Israel war and the Syrian conflict) have bolstered this trend. By looking at these, Assi examines how the intersection of the influence of external factors and powers with domestic conflicts has shaped the behaviour of political parties and has had implications on their ability to reach compromises and initiate democratic reforms. By analysing the impact of the intersection of domestic and external factors on democracy, this book is a vital reference for those studying politics of Lebanon and the Middle East more broadly.
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Book Reviews by Abbas Assi
Mediterranean Politics, 2024
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Mediterranean Politics, 2023
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Davo Journal, 2020
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Mediterranean Politics, 2021
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Jil Journal for Political Studies and International Relations, 2018
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مجلة المستقبل العربي
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British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies, 2014
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Journal Articles by Abbas Assi
Middle East Critique, 2024
In Lebanon, the same political class whose role was instrumental in the economic and financial co... more In Lebanon, the same political class whose role was instrumental in the economic and financial collapse of the country won the May 2022 parliamentary elections. These results raise questions about why and how the sectarian politicians were able to secure their political survival in a divided society. This article explores and analyzes elites’ strategies to augment power in divided societies and how it is employed to mobilize followers. It employs the concept of ‘bare life,’ as developed by Giorgio Agamben, to analyze elites’ strategies to control the lives of their followers and shape their political orientations. ‘Bare life’ is not always imposed on individuals. It is, at times, a ‘voluntary option’ for individuals in exchange for protection from sovereign power against alleged fears and dangers. The article will analyze the case of the Christian community in Lebanon to explore why and how its elites exert considerable influence over their community and secure its loyalty.
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Sada Journal, 2022
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Sada Journal, 2022
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Insights - Middle East Institute (NUS), 2020
Although the October Uprising crossed sectarian borders and social classes, it was not only an ou... more Although the October Uprising crossed sectarian borders and social classes, it was not only an outcry against the political class. Sectarianism is a dominant factor in shaping the political orientations and behaviour of the Lebanese people. This article seeks to answer the following question: Why did certain cities witness large protests while elsewhere, the number of protesters was comparatively small? I will explore and discuss the factors behind this phenomenon from a sectarian perspective which can also deepen our understanding of the factors that led to the failure of the Uprising so far to achieve its goals.
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Middle East Institute - Middle East Asia (MAP) Project
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Contemporary Arab Affairs, 2017
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Conference Presentations by Abbas Assi
Books by Abbas Assi
Book Reviews by Abbas Assi
Journal Articles by Abbas Assi
the Syrian military withdrawal from the country in 2005 did not
mark a turning point to strengthen their political roles after several
years of marginalization. Instead, their clash of interests left
adverse implications for their behaviour, which undermined their
ability to advance their interests and the interests of their community
in the consociational system. This article argues that three
main factors impacted upon their political behaviour: (1) intra
sectarian conflicts; (2) inter sectarian conflicts; and (3) external
factors (external alliances and regional developments). The impact
of those three factors on their behaviour weakened their ability to
reach compromises over, for instance, the formulation of a new
electoral law that improves the Christian voters’ influence on
election results, and the presidential elections. The article employs
the consociational model as an analytical framework to explain the
factors that influence the behaviour of Lebanon’s political parties.
إلى تغيير في موازين القوى بين الطوائف. ويزعم الكاتب أن التعديل الدستوري في لبنان غير ممكن
في المدى المنظور بسبب توازن القوى بين الأحزاب الطائفية. تعتمد المقالة أساساً على مجموعة
مقابلات أجراها الكاتب في العامين ٢٠١٢ و ٢٠١٤ مع شخصيات سياسية وقانونية وصحفية لعبت
دوراً في وضع الدستور والحياة السياسية اللبنانية.
العدد 451 - أيلول/سبتمبر 2016 - السنة 39.
By comparing the two periods (pre- and post-2005), this chapter will
argue that although the Syrian withdrawal in 2005 was a necessary
condition for facilitating the success of the democratization process, it
was not sufficient. It will argue that Lebanon’s consociational model
enhanced Syrian hegemony over Lebanon and helped spark political and
sectarian conflicts in the post-2005 period. The aim of providing a
comparative analysis of the two periods is to show how the Syrian
withdrawal in 2005, which ended Syria’s playing the ‘arbiter role’ to
solve domestic conflicts, helped exacerbate political and sectarian
conflicts and ‘motivated’ foreign intervention from diverse external
players after 2005.