A Crossroad Between Reformulating the Power-sharing System and Federalism for Lebanon

Abstract

Lebanon is suffering from multiple crises, and the lack of reaction on behalf of the authorities demands a serious reflection on whether Lebanon, as a state entity, can or cannot be saved. It is facing the end of the Second Republic or witnessing the birth of a new political order alien to the former. Although the Lebanese speak the same language and share many cultural and social traditions, the weakening of the central government, its inability to resolve many crises, and deep differences over Lebanon’s regional positioning favor the withdrawal of communities and create fertile ground for the resurgence of the federalist debate. The article argues that the most suitable option to overcome the current stalemate relies not on federalism or partition but on modifying the power-sharing system. The persistent issues arising from implementing semi-consociationalism are highlighted to argue that restoring a fully developed consociational system would enable Lebanon to regain its political stability and order, better equipping it to confront future challenges.