Lebanese Army: Determinants of Historical Role and Management of the Current Crisis

Summary

The Lebanese have never been on strong accord; rather, they have often been distributed, in terms of orientation, on various regional and international axes, based on sectarian affiliation and common interests between Lebanese groups and foreign countries. On this basis, the Lebanese Army has been incepted since 1916 under the French occupation, even  before the end of World War I and the defeat of the Ottoman Empire. Within the framework of the French-British rivalry, Lebanon gained its independence in 1943, but the army remained under French authority until August 1, 1945. This study tackles the history of the Lebanese army and the dimensions of its role in Lebanon.