Identity Construction and «Local Democracy» in Lebanon
The article explores the relationship between identity, politics and«local
democracy» in the contemporary Lebanon. Its aim is to analyse the increasing
interest of the Lebanese political forces in the local dimension, in order to
understand how and to which extent this is a genuine interest or a calculated
interest. In the first section the article examines the aspects that, in a historical
perspective, affected the construction of the State in Lebanon and had a strong
impact in building the Lebanese confessional system, namely the cultural, religious
and internationals factors. Those elements played a key role in slowing
(and, sometimes, blocking) a process of empowerment from below that would
lead to the emergence of a shared civic culture, a crucial element for the realization
of a common path towards «local democracy». The second section
will outline the «local decision-making process» of Lebanon, its limits and its
intrinsic potential. After a short overview on the administrative structure, the
article will analyze some recent projects and local dynamics (especially the municipal
elections) in order to show how the«local democracy» dimension in
Lebanon, despite its progress, is still deeply rooted.