Mgr. Eva Taterová, M.A., Ph.D. Politics and Society in the Middle East POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT OF LEBANON AND SYRIA IN 20TH CENTURY https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRsVS1LhRls3o2JvqOPVC9Er5ekCYi6aBsPAErB54u3DpS tbdGudQ https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRZjpShXO7b8xZQHEnlZas4s7kMwLVITrCVn7tJsKy-lmu jker0 CONSEQUNCES OF WW1 —After WW1 both Lebanon and Syria got under the mandate of France. — —The borders of modern states were set up à origins of the contemporary problems. — —The decision to separate Lebanon as the independent territorial unit (“stolen Syrian province“). — —Two basic options of the borders: —Small Lebanon – the only Christian state in the Middle East. —Bigger Lebanon – including the Shia Muslims. — http://mideastwire.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/liban-fcv_07-09-2012_web__cle099ac2-1.jpg?w=700 RELIGIOUS DIVERSITY OF LEBANON —Maronites – about 900,000 people in Lebanon. — —Shia Muslims – came to Lebanon in 16th century from Persia. — —Sunni Muslims. — —Druzes. — — INDEPENDENCE —September 1941: independence of Syria. — —Lebanon declared independence in 1943 à after the defeat of France WW2, Lebanon refused to support the collaborative Vichy regime. — —Lebanese leaders made so called National Pact (1943): —Verbal arrangement that define the representation of all religious and ethnic group in Lebanese parliament. —Christians vs. Muslims 6:5. —President shall be always Maronite, prime-minister always Sunni Muslim, Speaker of the Parliament Shia Muslim, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces always Druze. — — — INDEPENDENT LEBANON —Economically developer country: “Switzerland of the Middle East“. — —Confessional system has been very frail since the beginning. — —During the time, the attempts of the Muslims for emancipation vs. Christian ressistence to change the existing system. — — — ARAB-ISRAELI CONFLICT AND THE IMPACTS ON LEBANON AND SYRIA —Since the beginning, Lebanon and Syria disapproved the establishment of the Jewish state à till today officially in war with Israel, just the armistice. — —Main problem the immigration of Palestine refugees after 1948 and 1967 à refugee camps in southern Lebanon and Syria. — —Syria found out very humiliating especially the loss of Golan Height in 1967. REFUGEES NEIGHBORHOOD IN BEIRUT CIVIL WAR IN LEBANON 1975-1990 —Radicalization of the Palestinians especially after PLO leaders moved from Jordan to Lebanon (southern Lebanon = Fatah land). — —1975 escalation of the sectarian violence. — —Breaking point: assassination of Bachir Gemayel in 1982. — —The others states such Israel and Syria intervened in the conflict as well. — Bachir Gemayel SABRA AND SHATILA MASSACRES —16-18 September 1982 massacres in refugees camps Sabra and Shatila in Beirut suburbs. — —About 400 – 2000 Palestinians murdered by the members of Phalangist Party. — —Responsibility of Israeli army – Ariel Sharon. CIVIL WAR — — — —https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUYxKbMDUaw END OF CIVIL WAR —Taif Agreement1989: —Compromise negotiated by Saudi Arabia —Formal ending of the civil war even though limited violent clashes still appeared time to time. —The attempts to reduce the inequality between Christians and Muslims à changes in National Pact – mandates in parliament between Christians and Muslims 1:1. —Limitation of presidential power. — —General amnesty on crimes that were committed during the civil war. POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT IN LEBANON AFTER CIVIL WAR —Slow post-conflict reconstruction of the country (various social, economic, environmental problems). — —Religious radicals in the society – Hezbollah (founded during the civil war, nowadays the political party that is represented in the parliament). — —Refugees from Syria à risk of the civil war in Lebanon. ANTI-GOVERNMENT DEMONSTRATIONS 2019 INDEPENDENT SYRIA •Internal problems: —Political instability à frequent political coups. —The issue of common identity and ideology. — —1958 – project of United Arab Republic due to pan-Arabism (Syria + Egypt in one state) à breakup in 1961. — —March 1963: military coup lead by Ba‘ath Party (The Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party) à since 1970 Hafez Assad was the leader. PRESIDENTAL MONARCHY IN SYRIA —The president is almighty, supported by the army. — —Personal cult – „people, unity, revolution“. — —Three pillars of power: family, Ba‘ath Party, army. POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT IN SYRIA —1990s significant changes in international relations (failure of USSR à loss of the significant ally). — —Deep social changes: social mobilization – more than 50% urbanization rate, growing literacy, 28% people had university or high school education. — —Gradual change of the regime – more freedom to travel, to make business, more autonomy, release of some political prisoners. — —June 2000: death of Hafez Assad à Bashar Assad. BASHAR ASSAD AND HIS WIFE ARAB SPRING —December 2010: Mohamed Bouazizi‘s self-immolation in Tunisia à protest against president Bin Ali‘s government à spread to almost all other Arab countries (a significant surprise for the whole world). — —Various reasons for the protests: economic troubles, difficult social situation, corruption, limited human and political right. — —Role of the new media and social networks such as Facebook and Twitter. MAP OF ARAB SPRING — — WAR IN SYRIA —March 2011 demonstrations against Bashar Assad‘s regime. — —Bashar Assad decide to suppress the uprisings with the help of the army à the conflict escalated in regular civil war. — —Massive damages: more than 470,000 death, more 3 millions of refugees – huge violation of the human rights (torture, political prisoners, weapons of massive destruction). — —Syria has become the battlefield of the great powers such as Iran, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Turkey and others. — WAR IN SYRIA —Assad‘s supporters: —Syrian government forces. —Hizballah. —Russia, Iraq, Iran. — —Opposition: —National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces —Islamic state. —An-Nusra Fronte (close connections to al-Kaida). —Turkey, Qatar, Saudi Arabia. GROWTH OF ISLAMIC STATE —ISIS founders were inspired by al-Kaida (Abu Musab al-Zarqawi) and other radical movements that became active due to war in Iraq (2003-2011). — —2010-2019 Abu Bakr al-Bagdadi was the leader of ISIS (2014 declared himself as Caliph). — —Increase of ISIS activities especially since 2011 when US army left Iraq. — —Due to the civil war in Syria, increase of activities in Syrian territory –heavy fightings with Kurdish Pershmerga. — —Sophisticated propaganda and media campaign. TERRITORIAL CLAIMS OF ISLAMIC STATE CURRENT SITUATION IN SYRIA — — — — —THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION