
State Failure in Lebanon
Causes and Implications
Ohannes Geukjian(Author)
Routledge (Publisher)
1st Edition
Published on 30. April 2026
Book
Hardback
318 pages
978-1-032-63230-8 (ISBN)
Description
State Failure in Lebanon: Causes and Implications investigates the persistent inability of Lebanon's political system to establish a cohesive, effective, and legitimate state over the past century.
Drawing on theories of state-building, consociationalism, and political decay, this book explores how Lebanon's sectarian power-sharing arrangement-initially intended to manage internal divisions-has instead entrenched elite fragmentation, weakened state institutions, and obstructed the development of national cohesion. It examines how internal dynamics, including sectarianism, corruption, and institutional politicisation, have combined with foreign intervention and structural flaws to erode state authority. From the emergence of the Lebanese state to the present
day, the book shows how the failure to cultivate an overarching loyalty to the state has contributed to chronic governance crises and recurring instability. Using qualitative analysis of discourse and content, it sheds new light on why Lebanon remains fragile despite repeated efforts at reform.
This book will be of interest to students and scholars of Middle East politics, conflict studies, and comparative state-building, as well as policymakers and analysts concerned with governance, sectarianism, and institutional resilience in divided societies.
Drawing on theories of state-building, consociationalism, and political decay, this book explores how Lebanon's sectarian power-sharing arrangement-initially intended to manage internal divisions-has instead entrenched elite fragmentation, weakened state institutions, and obstructed the development of national cohesion. It examines how internal dynamics, including sectarianism, corruption, and institutional politicisation, have combined with foreign intervention and structural flaws to erode state authority. From the emergence of the Lebanese state to the present
day, the book shows how the failure to cultivate an overarching loyalty to the state has contributed to chronic governance crises and recurring instability. Using qualitative analysis of discourse and content, it sheds new light on why Lebanon remains fragile despite repeated efforts at reform.
This book will be of interest to students and scholars of Middle East politics, conflict studies, and comparative state-building, as well as policymakers and analysts concerned with governance, sectarianism, and institutional resilience in divided societies.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Target group
College/higher education
Academic
Product notice
sewn/stitched
Cloth over boards
Illustrations
7 s/w Tabellen
7 Tables, black and white
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 152 mm
Thickness: 19 mm
Weight
608 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-032-63230-8 (9781032632308)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
04/2026
1st Edition
Routledge
€60.99
Available for download

E-Book
04/2026
1st Edition
Routledge
€60.99
Available for download
Person
Ohannes Geukjian is an Associate Professor of Comparative Politics and Conflict Resolution in the department of Political Studies and Public Administration at the American University of Beirut. He specialises in intra-state conflict, nationalism, nation-building, state-building, and peace-building in deeply-divided societies. His research focuses on the Middle East, the south Caucasus and Russia.
Content
Contents
Acknowledgements
List of Abbreviations
List of Tables
1-Introduction
2-State-Making and State Breakdown in Lebanon, 1800s-1975
3-The Tai'f Agreement and Attempts to Re-Build the Post-War State, 1989-2005
4-War, Political Instability, and Still-Born State-Building, 2006-2017
5-Economic and Political signals of State Failure, 2018
6-Downward Spiral and State Failure, 2019-2020
7-Conclusion
Appendixes
Bibliography
Index
Acknowledgements
List of Abbreviations
List of Tables
1-Introduction
2-State-Making and State Breakdown in Lebanon, 1800s-1975
3-The Tai'f Agreement and Attempts to Re-Build the Post-War State, 1989-2005
4-War, Political Instability, and Still-Born State-Building, 2006-2017
5-Economic and Political signals of State Failure, 2018
6-Downward Spiral and State Failure, 2019-2020
7-Conclusion
Appendixes
Bibliography
Index