Considering that Lebanon - just like Cyprus and Israel - is a small Eastern Mediterranean country with an overall Western outlook (much more than, say, Syria or Egypt or Iraq), and considering that before the outbreak of the civil war in 1975 Lebanon was a pretty modernized country: What would it have taken for Lebanon to develop like Cyprus or Israel, in the sense of managing to create a modern, developed, stable liberal democracy - with a relatively high per capita income and not too much corruption/impunity - despite being in the midst of internecine conflicts? What POD(s) would it take for Lebanon to achieve the sort of development trajectory that Cyprus and Israel have each taken?
POD for a more modern/stable, less corrupt Lebanon?
- Thread starter dovibear
- Start date
I've thought of this some more, and a more pointed question might just be: What POD would it take for Lebanon to have a stronger Christian majority from, let's say, the time of independence in 1943 or even before? Maybe lessening Lebanese Christian emigration at one point or another (though such emigration still happens) and/or making a more concerted and serious effort to bring in Christians from the rest of the Middle East the way that Jews moved to Israel from all over Europe, the Middle East/North Africa, etc.?
GeographyDude
Gone Fishin'
Tap into U.S. “military aid.”
During the cold war, my country was pretty free and easy in giving out money. You mainly just had to play the game and say you were a bulwark against communism, even if your military strongman controlled big chunks of the economy.
And don’t allow a whiff of militias in southern Lebanon. That is, avoid the (?) 1982 Israeli invasion and occupation of southern Lebanon from your end. Yes, Israel went overboard esp. occupying too long (they should have followed the Chinese model of occupying for relatively short time), but it’s not like Israel had no reason whatsoever.
And far as time of POD, before the 1975 civil war makes it too easy. So, make it between the civil war and the Israeli occupation of the southern part in the early ‘80s.
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Kick
1. A much smaller Lebanon, basically city state of Beruit and some adjacent clearly majority Maronite Christian communities.
2. Ethnic cleansing of non-Maronites from the city-state.
2. Ethnic cleansing of non-Maronites from the city-state.
Did you just suggest Ethnic Cleansing as a solution?
You did!
Kicked for a week.
Windows95
Banned
More economic growth, benefits and enfranchisement (opportunities and outcomes are equalized) to the rest of the people of the economic growth, and a strong military should help out.
Basically, make Lebanon a Switzerland of the Middle East. Learn from Switzerland how they do stuff. By circa 1965-1972, times were good in Lebanon, why not make it better, and no one is left behind, especially the poor Southern Shias and Sunni Muslims.
The refugee Palestinians are to be treated more humanely and allow them everything except voting, setting up businesses and civic institutions.
Basically, make Lebanon a Switzerland of the Middle East. Learn from Switzerland how they do stuff. By circa 1965-1972, times were good in Lebanon, why not make it better, and no one is left behind, especially the poor Southern Shias and Sunni Muslims.
The refugee Palestinians are to be treated more humanely and allow them everything except voting, setting up businesses and civic institutions.
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Lebanon would probably be better off looking at how Jordan does things, rather than Switzerland. Lebanon might be a little Western looking on the outside due to the French presence, but it's still through and through culturally Arab.
I'm no expert, but has the Christian community not existed since long before the French took over? The French created the political boundaries of lebanon that made them a majority at its creation, but the Maronites were still there. I would expect them to be culturally still closer to Arab nations than western nations, much like how Assyrians and Coptic Egyptians might be christian, but they're still closer culturally to the countries around them.
You might be able to create a stronger Nationalist Lebanese identity if the French try to keep it by force of Arms in the 40s-50s like Algeria or Indochina.
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Orangecar
Banned
You will need to change the political system. The current elctoral system encourages corruption and patronage. Honestly multi ethnic and religious states that work best when ethnic and religious divisions don't manifest themselves on a political level, it simply encourages people to indeintify mote with their group than their national identity