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Comprehensive study of the Lebanese Army from Lebanon's independence to the present.
2009 CHOICE Outstanding Academic Title
Oren Barak sheds new light on the major political and social developments in Lebanon since its independence by focusing on the emergence of the Lebanese Army, its paralysis during the civil war from 1975 to 1990, and its reconstruction after the war. He discusses the remarkable transformation of a military dominated by one sector of society-the Christian communities, and particularly the Maronites-into one that is characterized by power sharing among Lebanon's various communities, large families, and regions. The book develops a new approach to the study of the role of the military in divided societies by examining military institutions from three intertwined angles: first, as major arenas for social coexistence and conflict; second, as actors that are involved in politics but are also affected by political processes; and third, as actors that promote the process of state formation. This comprehensive look at Lebanon will inform the discussion of other divided societies, such as Afghanistan and Iraq, that face the dual challenge of restoring the political system and the security sector after state failure and intrastate conflict.
"…a definitive history and analysis of the LAF [Lebanese Armed Forces]." — Review of Middle East Studies
"…Barak's work is a valuable reference for both policy analysts and historians of modern Lebanese history." — Digest of Middle East Studies
"This is one of the few major efforts devoted to not only the structure of the Lebanese military, but also its social and ethnic composition and its role within the country's polity … the book is meticulously researched … The manner in which Barak weaves the contribution of the Lebanese military into the complexities of civil war and intersectoral relations is worthy of praise." — CHOICE
Table of Contents
List of Maps
List of Tables
Acknowledgments
Note on Transliteration
Introduction
1. An Integrative Approach to the Military in Divided Societies
2. The Army and Intersectoral Relations in Lebanon
3. The Army and State Formation in Lebanon
4. The Army in Politics: From Mediator to Arbiter to Holder of the Balance
5. The Army In and Out of Politics: The "Duality in Power" and Its Opponents
6. The Gathering Storm: Regional Tensions and Their Impact on Lebanon and Its Army
7. The Army in the Civil War of 1975–90: Intervention and Paralysis
8. The Army in the Throes of Reconstruction
9. The Army Remains the Solution?
10. The Ta'if Agreement and the End of the Civil War
11. Resuscitation of the Army and the Restoration of State Authority in Lebanon
12. From Syria's Withdrawal from Lebanon to the War between Israel and Hizbullah
Conclusion
Notes
Bibliography
Index