LEBANON

The official national language is Modern Standard Arabic; however the majority of Lebanese people speak the Levantine dialect of Arabic as well as French and English. The deaf community uses the Lebanese Sign Language, which is the dialect of Levantine Arabic Sign Language. Other languages spoken include Armenian, Greek, and Kurdish. The Levantine dialect plays a major part in the Lebanese music and is the common factor that unifies the population. Lebanese music is a fusion of Western and Arab style. The music scene has famous stars [i] including Fairuz, Rahbani brothers, Nancy Ajram, and bands such as Soapkills and Mashrou’ Leila.

The way the Lebanese dress, eat, and communicate with one another is highly influenced by the French. Beirut, in particular, is home to many French-styled villas and bakeries. Beirut has a variety of dining options [ii] at Michelin-starred restaurants as well as local foods such mezze, ma'amoul, tabouleh, fattoush, manakish, and kibbeh. Kibbeh [iii], is a national dish made up of bulgur, minced onions, mint leaves and ground lean beef, lamb, goat, or camel meat, which are then formed into ball-shaped croquettes mixed with spices and pine nuts. They are deep fried to make them crispy and crunchy on the outside.

The community of Lebanon is comprised of 18 religious groups and is a Muslim-majority country. Shi’a and Sunni Muslims make up one-half of the population and Maronites make up one-fourth. The rest of the population includes Greek Catholics, Greek Orthodox, Druze, and also Jews. Religion offers social identity in Lebanon, as one’s religion is specified in the citizen identity card. Both Christian and Muslim holidays are celebrated as public holidays. Important religious sites [iv] in Lebanon include Khatem al Anbiyaa Mosque, Saint George Maronite Cathedral, Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque, Saint George Eastern Orthodox Cathedral, Druze Prophet of Job Shrine, and so many more.

As a holdover from French colonization, Lebanon’s government represents all religious factions in Lebanon. The top governmental posts belong to Christian Maronites, Sunni Muslims, and Shia Muslims. Parliament seats are split between Christians and Muslims, and divided accordingly among different denominations within each religion. The president must be a Maronite Christian, the prime minister must be Sunni, and the speaker of the parliament must be Shia [v]. Religion is an asset when one wants to claim political power in Lebanon. As a result, the sectarian representative uses their political power to serve both their own interests and those of their religious sect.

The national currency is the Lebanese pound, which is valued at 0.00066 USD. In March of 2020, the country defaulted on its foreign debt [vi] for the first time in history. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the Lebanese economy immensely, as it has collapsed crucial industries, such as tourism, catering, and transportation. Due to containment measures, two out of three households have experienced reduced income [vii], making people seek alternative means of income. Also, one out of every three Lebanese households have succumbed to unemployment, as economic sectors including services and sales were forced to close their operations and go on lockdown.

The current governing constitution [viii] came into effect in 1926. In 1932, an official census was conducted, which determined the sectarian proportions of the country that has not been changed since 1932 [ix]. In 1942, the French relinquished complete control and declared the nation of Lebanon officially independent. The Lebanon Civil War [x] (1975-1990) left the nation with no government. During this time, nations such as Syria and Israel alternatively occupied parts of Lebanon, including Beirut. The war was settled by the Ta’if Agreement in 1989. Throughout 2019, protesters took to the streets to peacefully demonstrate against the government authority, corruption, and even the political system.

Lebanon [xi] lies alongside the Mediterranean Sea, bounded by it on the west, bounded by Syria to the North and East and to the South by Israel. The majority of Lebanon is mountainous, whereas the Bekaa Valley separates Mount Lebanon, Lebanon’s mountain range, and the Anti-Lebanon Mountain Range that stretches alongside the eastern border it shares with Syria. The highest point of The Lebanon Mountains, Qurnat as-Sawda [xii], is 3083 meters above sea level. Principal rivers include the Litani and Orantes. North Lebanon and Bekaa Valley account for the main agricultural regions of Lebanon, where land is arable for cultivation of crops.