Communal Identity and Sectarian Division in Lebanon: A Comparative Analysis of The National Pact of 1943 and the Ta'if Agreement

Abstract

Throughout its history, Lebanon as faced an identity crisis that has been exacerbated by two fundamental documents -- the National Pact of 1943 and the Ta'if Agreement. These documents worked to ingrain identity into Lebanese politics and created a power- sharing system that was intended to equally represent all of Lebanon's religious groups. However, these documents failed to create a balance and only created tensions as minority Christian Maronites often had control over majority Sunni Muslims. These two documents have had a lasting impact on the Lebanese state and society and provide important lessons for other Middle Eastern states regarding the implementation of confessional or consociational systems.

About Kaitlin Peach

Kaitlin Peach is in her final year of the accelerated Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts program in International Studies, with minors in Arabic, French, and Middle East Studies. Her Master's thesis research focuses on the Syrian conflict and the potential outcomes of the conflict. During her undergraduate studies, she studied abroad in Turkey and Jordan and completed an internship with The Carter Center's Syria Mapping Project. After graduation, Kaitlin plans to pursue a career in the field of conflict resolution in the Middle East.