Fourteen years. For fourteen painstaking years of nonstop governmental abuse, technocratic corruption, stagnant economic growth, and the steady rise of Hezbollah– The Lebanese have remained as silent as mice. While several foreign analysts speculated that oppression had become normalized within countries such as Lebanon, it seems as though a peculiar change in events has challenged such narrative.

Yes, it seems as though after over half a decade of social contract violations, that Lebanon has finally decided to take up arms in protest.

The fire starter of it all? A .6% tax increase on Whatsapp. Yup, you heard me right, out of all the pressing issues that have haunted Lebanon, a measly tax on a messaging app was what sent everyone over the edge.

However, while correspondents in the US might think that the protests in Lebanon are as trivial as it’s the anger of a Whatsapp tax, such a mindset should be cautioned against at all costs.

Believe it or not, Lebanon is one of the numerous countries this year to start nationwide protests over relatively minute issues, that in turn actually represent chronic problems. Recently, I covered an article on Chile’s protests over increased Subway fares, but now I also want to connect that to Lebanon, in an effort to form a more cohesive narrative.

But before we dive into the global implications of Lebanon’s revolt, we first need to dig through the roots of the protests.

As of now, there are key 3 issues that are driving the Lebanese to the streets: Government Corruption, Economic Stagnation, and Increased Foreign Interference.

Let’s start with the first one, Government Corruption. Since the series of protests that occurred 14 years ago in Lebanon, citizens of the country expected a more transparent government, better access to voting and civil discourse, as well an increase of non-partisan media. Did the Lebanese get any of this?

Unfortunately, no. The Economist explains how years of nepotism, mismanagement of resources, and robust patronage networks have run the country’s political system into the ground. The latter two are most alarming, as resources are critical to upholding equality amongst citizens as well as providing basic needs.

Lebanon’s continuous abuse of said resources has had dire effects on it’s living standards. The political policies have resulted in “electricity shortages, undrinkable water, collapsing infrastructure, a poisoned environment”.

Moreover, when it comes to state-owned enterprises and favoritism shown towards certain companies, Lebanon’s government can also be found caught red-handed. For example, the country subsidizes a power company $2 billion a year, despite the fact that it fails to provide standard 24-hour electricity service and one of the slowest internet services in the world. It’s no wonder that the country has a $663mn deficit in the power sector.

Government corruption is one of the main motivators behind the anger of Lebanese citizens. As Ameet Morjaria, an Assistant Professor from Northwestern University, argues that the most radical, powerful protests emerge after long periods of government corruption directly tied with economic negligence that impacts the lives of people.

This leads us to the second factor driving the protests; a dried-up economy. Right now public debt in Lebanon is 150% of the GDP, meaning that for as much as the country makes in a year, all of its revenues plus an additional 50% go directly to paying the public debt.

Or the country chooses to ignore the problem, default, and increase inflation rates.

On the other hand, it’s not just the chronic cyclical unemployment or lack of viable infrastructure centers that are driving the economy to madness, it’s the concentration of wealth that is brewing a class war. The New York Times reports how, “The richest 3,000 people in the country, including many of the politicians, earn a tenth of the national income.” This so far has been going on for nearly 30 years and thus has taken a toll on public morale.

With the dire status of the Lebanese economy, not even standard austerity measures can work as a viable cure, but rather a whole structural reform of sectors, credit markets, and banking policy are needed. Not to mention, money laundering is also a severe problem hindering local businesses and regional markets.

Thus, prolonged financial woes have caused protestors to turn on community leaders and even ideological idols.

Cue in Hezbollah.

Since the Syrian Civil War commenced in 2011, Lebanon has been militarily weak. As a result, Hezbollah, a radical Shia terror-hybrid organization backed by Iran, has created a network of strongholds in the country. Even to the point where they have substantial influence within the Lebanese Parliament.

The World Politics Review’s Podcast, Trend Lines, explores history. They explain how Hezbollah is a hybrid organization, meaning they act as a militia as well as a political force, taking office and strongholds in many contentious areas. Furthermore, they argue, that for years the Lebanese have despised Hezbollah for trying to divide the government and expand Iranian influence within the country.

Think of it as the equivalent of the UK sending the Torries to the US with bats and riffles to decide healthcare policy.

Let’s just say, it wouldn’t end well.

And the same can be said for the real-life scenario of Hezbollah.

Although Hezbollah seems strong, disputes are threating their power. According to the Washington Post, anti-corruption protests have taken a forefront focus on rejecting the group. “ Hezbollah had been nearly untouchable in Lebanon until this wave of demonstrations. But even the militia’s Shiite Muslim supporters have been in the streets, despite gang of Hezbollah militants who tried to suppress the movement.”

The most shocking element of this development is not just it’s the trajectory for success, but also how it’s redefining norms of tribalist politics within the country.

#Lebanon MP convoy shoots live ammunition as protestors trie to prevent a parliamentary session that includes an amnesty bill which also forgives financial crimes-including ones not reported yet. Session itself is unconstitutional per legal experts #LebanonProtests #لبنان_ينتفض pic.twitter.com/BtFoMtMBSG — Maha Yahya (@mahamyahya) November 19, 2019

Yale Law Professor, Amy Chau, explains in her book, Political Tribes, how in certain Middle Eastern countries, terrorist groups capitalize off of sectarian differences and form tribal groups in order to gain power while creating division.

Yet, when it comes to Lebanon, they are one of the first countries to have a massive protest movement indifferent to religious or ethnic separation. Seemingly, it’s almost as though the national crisis has brought the population down to the bone on the concept of unity.

The previously mentioned New York Times furthers how, “ ….The Protestors, who have rejected Lebanon’s usual sectarian straitjacket- the political order that pits the country’s 18 officially recognized religious groups against one another in a ceaseless power struggle- to unite in scorn for the system.”

This is extremely remarkable, considering how the 1975 Sectarian Civil War killed a quarter-million of Lebanese citizens.

Consequently, it is because of the historical and sociological magnitude of the protests, that explain why said protestors aren’t backing down to government concessions.

In order to meet the demands of citizens, the government so far has offered to abolish several state institutions, establish a rather vague ‘anti-corruption’ committee, a resignation of the Prime Minister and his cabinet, no new taxes for 2020, as well as various other political and monetary concessions.

It seems as though all of these offers are made in vain because it seems protestors only want three things: non-political judicial officials, a new structure for clean substantial growth, and a breakdown of the current regime- with no survivors.

Should Lebanon’s protestors succeed in their efforts, not only will they set a precedent of success for the Year of the Protestor, but will also be a shining example standing against the horrors of political tribalism. They will be a beacon of hope proving that the common people still have a voice, and reveal it’s true power in action.

Already, the Prime Minister has agreed to resign, and Hezbollah is on the defensive. Lebanon for the past fourteen years was nearly considered a failed state and false promise of political change.

Now in 2020, it can be the face that transcends the very barriers that seek to divide and oppress us.

Welcome to our new article series: The Year of Protests! 2019 has been a year filled with street protests from around the world, and no one has been able to figure out why. In this series, New Voice reporters, Juliette Reyes and Polina Protozanova, will analyze and explain these various protests going on in countries from around the world.

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