Lebanon’s civil war (1975-1990) hampered its economic capabilities; national exports were halved and its status as a market and banking center went downhill. Since the war ended, Lebanon has rebuilt its physical infrastructure and financial institutions through many loans. The country has been granted over $4 billion to help stabilize its economy. Known as the Paris II Donors Conference, seventeen countries pledged their monetary support to Lebanon in 2002, with Saudi Arabia pledging the most at $700 million. The money was financed by these donors on the condition that certain reforms be carried out—reduction in government spending, increased taxes and privatization of some state activities. This program triggered intense debate and flat out opposition from various legislators, so progress with these reforms have been slow to come, especially in regard to the privatization of the telecommunication and airline industries.
To further hurt its economy, the Israel-Hezbollah conflict caused an estimated $3.6 billion in infrastructure damage, which led international donors to pledge $1 billion in reconstruction assistance. These donors met in 2007 and agreed to pledge an additional $7.5 billion for development on the condition that Lebanon took seriously its privatization commitments. Political tension and debate over these structural adjustment policies continue to delay economic growth, most notably in tourism.
Although Lebanon is suffering through economic hardship, people around the country are still importing and exporting, buying and selling. Agriculture only accounts for 5.2% of the GDP (recall the lack of arable land), but citrus, grapes, tomatoes, apples, vegetables, potatoes, olives and tobacco are still produced. Industry represents 18.4% of Lebanon’s GDP, with banking, tourism, food processing, wine, jewelry, cement, textiles, mineral and chemical products, wood and furniture products, and some oil refining particularly important for the country’s revenue. The rest of Lebanon’s GDP (76.4%) is service-oriented.
Lebanon’s major export partners include Syria, the United Arab Emirates, Switzerland, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, while its largest import partners are Syria (again), Italy, the United States, France, Germany, China and Saudi Arabia. From the latter countries, Lebanon imports its necessary petroleum products, as well as cars, medicine, meat and general consumer goods.
Friday, February 22, 2008
A Brief History of Lebanon in the 20th Century
At the end of World War I, France received a mandate over the territory of Syria and separated the region of Lebanon as a separate nation in 1920. Lebanon was originally created to allow for the rights of the Maronite Christians, who were a majority in Lebanon at that time. France later granted Lebanon its independence in 1943, as World War II required all of its attention. After becoming independent, Lebanon ratified a constitution that worked to balance the Christian Majority with the large Muslim minorities. The demographics quickly shifted in favor of the Muslims, because cultural ties and religious affiliations proved stronger than a national unity based on a piece of land carved out by the French. From 1975 to 1990, Lebanon experienced ongoing civil war, which devastated the country’s political institutions as well as overall infrastructure. Additionally, neighbors Israel and Syria both occupied and attempted to assert control over the country. The Ta’if Accords, constructed in 1989, were designed to transfer power from the presidency (traditionally Maronite) to a cabinet divided equally between Christians and Muslims. Also, the accords extended Lebanese control over the South, where Israel was occupier. Israel did not withdraw from Southern Lebanon until 2000, and the armed Hezbollah militia (considered by Lebanon to be a source of social welfare and security) remained in control of the region. Additionally, the accords provided for a joint Syrian-Lebanese security agreement.
Since the end of the war, Lebanon has enjoyed a number of successful elections, most militias have broken up, and the Lebanese Armed Forces has authority over two-thirds of the country. Hezbollah, mentioned above, still maintains considerable control (and weapons) in the South. The US State Department identifies Hezbollah as a Foreign Terrorist Organization because of its violence toward Israel, and the US also blames Syria for providing the militia with weapons, thus promoting Hezbollah’s violence and terrorism.
After Israel’s withdrawal in 2000 and a United Nations resolution in 2004—calling for Syria to end interference in Lebanese affairs and completely withdraw from the country—multiple Lebanese groups took up the effort and demanded Syrian withdrawal. In February 2005, mass demonstrations, known as “The Cedar Revolution”, were conducted in Beirut against Syria’s presence after former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri and other government figures were assassinated. Because of the protests, Syria withdrew its military forces from Lebanon in April 2005. In May of that year, Lebanon held its first completely free legislative elections.
Lebanon still witnesses violence to this day. In July 2006, Hezbollah crossed into Israel and kidnapped two Israeli soldiers. Hezbollah also launched rockets over the massive fence separating Israel and Lebanon, which hit border towns and farms. This prompted a major offensive by Israel, which lasted 34 days, killing numerous Lebanese civilians, destroying major highways and buildings, and targeting Hezbollah’s headquarters. Beirut’s international airport was also attacked and put out of action.
Additionally, Lebanon has witnessed violence when the Lebanese Armed Forces fought a Sunni extremist group in the Nahr al-Barid Palestinian refugee camp, and the country has experienced a string of political assassinations since the Prime Minister Hariri’s death in 2005.
Since the end of the war, Lebanon has enjoyed a number of successful elections, most militias have broken up, and the Lebanese Armed Forces has authority over two-thirds of the country. Hezbollah, mentioned above, still maintains considerable control (and weapons) in the South. The US State Department identifies Hezbollah as a Foreign Terrorist Organization because of its violence toward Israel, and the US also blames Syria for providing the militia with weapons, thus promoting Hezbollah’s violence and terrorism.
After Israel’s withdrawal in 2000 and a United Nations resolution in 2004—calling for Syria to end interference in Lebanese affairs and completely withdraw from the country—multiple Lebanese groups took up the effort and demanded Syrian withdrawal. In February 2005, mass demonstrations, known as “The Cedar Revolution”, were conducted in Beirut against Syria’s presence after former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri and other government figures were assassinated. Because of the protests, Syria withdrew its military forces from Lebanon in April 2005. In May of that year, Lebanon held its first completely free legislative elections.
Lebanon still witnesses violence to this day. In July 2006, Hezbollah crossed into Israel and kidnapped two Israeli soldiers. Hezbollah also launched rockets over the massive fence separating Israel and Lebanon, which hit border towns and farms. This prompted a major offensive by Israel, which lasted 34 days, killing numerous Lebanese civilians, destroying major highways and buildings, and targeting Hezbollah’s headquarters. Beirut’s international airport was also attacked and put out of action.
Additionally, Lebanon has witnessed violence when the Lebanese Armed Forces fought a Sunni extremist group in the Nahr al-Barid Palestinian refugee camp, and the country has experienced a string of political assassinations since the Prime Minister Hariri’s death in 2005.
The Lebanese Population
According to the CIA World Factbook estimate (July 2007), over 3,925,502 people live in Lebanon, and it is a fairly youthful population, as well. Some 26.2% of the people are between 0 and 14 years, while 66.7% is between 15 and 64 years and 7.1% of the people are over 65 years. As a comparison, the United States has over 12% of its population at 65 years and above. However, Europa World Plus estimates that Lebanon’s population growth rate has declined from 2.9% in 1995 to 1.2% in 2007.
The largest ethnic group in Lebanon is Arab, accounting for about 95% of the population. Just 4% is Armenian and 1% is identified as “other”. It is important to note that many Christian Lebanese do not refer to themselves as Arab but as descendents of ancient Canaanites, preferring “Phoenician” as their ethnic group. Although 59.7% of Lebanese are Muslim (majority is Shi’a), 39% of the population is Christian (majority is Maronite, Catholic and Greek Orthodox), which is unique for a Middle Eastern country. Its neighbor, Syria, identifies just 10% of its population as Christian. Even though the CIA's World Fact Book is generally pretty accurate, Lebanon has not conducted an official census since 1932; therefore, some of these population figures could be a bit skewed.
Lebanon’s official language is Arabic, but French is widely understood due to its French colonization in the early 20th century. English and Armenian are also spoken but in far fewer places.
Of the Lebanese people, over 28% of the population lives below the poverty line. To compare, Syria has only 11.9% of its population below the poverty line, as does the United States, at 12%. (Neighboring Israel uses a different scale to measure poverty, so its figures cannot be directly compared.) Additionally, Lebanon has a 20% unemployment rate (Syria’s unemployment rate is 10%, while Israel’s is 7.6% and the United States’ is 4.6%).
The largest ethnic group in Lebanon is Arab, accounting for about 95% of the population. Just 4% is Armenian and 1% is identified as “other”. It is important to note that many Christian Lebanese do not refer to themselves as Arab but as descendents of ancient Canaanites, preferring “Phoenician” as their ethnic group. Although 59.7% of Lebanese are Muslim (majority is Shi’a), 39% of the population is Christian (majority is Maronite, Catholic and Greek Orthodox), which is unique for a Middle Eastern country. Its neighbor, Syria, identifies just 10% of its population as Christian. Even though the CIA's World Fact Book is generally pretty accurate, Lebanon has not conducted an official census since 1932; therefore, some of these population figures could be a bit skewed.
Lebanon’s official language is Arabic, but French is widely understood due to its French colonization in the early 20th century. English and Armenian are also spoken but in far fewer places.
Of the Lebanese people, over 28% of the population lives below the poverty line. To compare, Syria has only 11.9% of its population below the poverty line, as does the United States, at 12%. (Neighboring Israel uses a different scale to measure poverty, so its figures cannot be directly compared.) Additionally, Lebanon has a 20% unemployment rate (Syria’s unemployment rate is 10%, while Israel’s is 7.6% and the United States’ is 4.6%).
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Geography and Climate
When discussing Lebanon’s geography, it is important to first note where the country is located. Lebanon sits on the Levant region of the Mediterranean, bordering Syria and Israel, respectively. The map on the right-hand side gives a detailed visual, and one can clearly see that Syria commands a much larger border with Lebanon (375 km, according to the CIA World Factbook) than the border between Israel and Lebanon (79 km). Lebanon is not what one might consider a large country; on the contrary, it is only about 0.7 times the size of Connecticut, USA.
Do not believe that just because the country is small that its geographical diversity is lacking! For starters, the beauty of Lebanon’s Mediterranean coastline cannot fully be captured in photographs. Its sandy beaches and crystal waters make it a dream destination for tourists and natives, alike. Running parallel to the water is a narrow coastal plain, where the land quickly rises to form numerous ridges, developing into mountains. The highest point of elevation is known as Qurnet as-Sauda (3,088 m), and El Beqaa—or the Bekaa Valley—separates the Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon Mountains. Additionally, the Lebanon Mountains produce large springs at high altitudes, which work to water and cultivate the surrounding region in the summer (during the winter, the mountain ranges experience heavy snows). These springs are an important natural resource for Lebanon, along with the highly-valued limestone, iron ore, salt and arable land. Just over 16% of Lebanon’s land is arable, while only about 14% of the land is used for permanent crops. The hot, dry summers and the cool, wet winters may account for the lack of crop production in the country. Rainfall is quite heavy while it lasts (from October to April) with an extremely arid summer afterward. The summer also provides for high humidity over the coastal region, which would make a dip in the Mediterranean Sea an even more refreshing experience!
Do not believe that just because the country is small that its geographical diversity is lacking! For starters, the beauty of Lebanon’s Mediterranean coastline cannot fully be captured in photographs. Its sandy beaches and crystal waters make it a dream destination for tourists and natives, alike. Running parallel to the water is a narrow coastal plain, where the land quickly rises to form numerous ridges, developing into mountains. The highest point of elevation is known as Qurnet as-Sauda (3,088 m), and El Beqaa—or the Bekaa Valley—separates the Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon Mountains. Additionally, the Lebanon Mountains produce large springs at high altitudes, which work to water and cultivate the surrounding region in the summer (during the winter, the mountain ranges experience heavy snows). These springs are an important natural resource for Lebanon, along with the highly-valued limestone, iron ore, salt and arable land. Just over 16% of Lebanon’s land is arable, while only about 14% of the land is used for permanent crops. The hot, dry summers and the cool, wet winters may account for the lack of crop production in the country. Rainfall is quite heavy while it lasts (from October to April) with an extremely arid summer afterward. The summer also provides for high humidity over the coastal region, which would make a dip in the Mediterranean Sea an even more refreshing experience!
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