Future of Lebanon

Tuesday , 25 December 2007

Lebanon is one of the most attractive countries for students of the Social Sciences and Humanities because of its heterogeneous structure and complex history. Although its population is less than four million people, 18 religious sects are officially recognized in the country. As the government defines its positions according to sectarian measures; this situation has created divisions and many social crises in the country over the past decades. Through the National Pact of 1943, the government was a proportional representation system until the year of 1975. The Pact fixed the ratio of Christians to Muslims in Parliament at six to five. The Taif Agreement of 1989 led the groups to negotiate to end the 14-year civil war. at this time the composition of parliament was changed. The number of seats in the parliament increased from 99 to 108 (today it is 128 seats) and equal distribution guaranteed between Muslims and Christians.

Still some positions in the government are reserved for specific religious groups based on a confessional power sharing system. According to this confessional power-sharing system, the president has to be Maronite Catholic, the Prime Minister has to be Sunni Muslim, the Deputy Prime Minister Orthodox Christian and the Speaker of the Parliament Shi’a Muslim....http://www.turkishweekly.net/news/51127/future-of-lebanon.html

Serpil ACIKALIN

25 December 2007

http://www.turkishweekly.net/news/51127/future-of-lebanon.html

srpll8@gmail.com