What is next for Hariri? (By Yeghia Tashjian)

The shocking resignation of Lebanese Prime Minister, Saad Hariri, on the 4th of November radically altered the political landscape of West Asia. The declaration was made in Riyadh, and it triggered both a political crisis in Lebanon and rumors speculating whether or not Hariri was

How strong is Hezbollah’s grip on Lebanon? (By Christiane Waked)

In order to see the bigger picture, one must clearly put things into their context. To apprehend Hezbollah issue, we must first understand, that Hezbollah is neither Iranian nor Palestinian but Lebanese. Hezbollah leaders, members and followers are Lebanese citizens with rights and

Kurds in Lebanon rally in favor of the referendum

The Lebanese branch of the Kurdistan Democratic Party has organized a solidarity gathering in Martyr’s square for the “Independence referendum” that will be held in Kurdish controlled parts of Northern Iraq (Iraqi Kurdistan) on the 25th of this September. (17/9/2017)      

The Kurdish Student Union in Lebanon organized an outdoor event to celebrate Nowruz (Christiane Waked)

While the Kurd are still celebrating the coming of the spring, the Kurdish student Union in Lebanon organized an outdoor event on Sunday 7th of May at Naher Ibrahim where several Kurdish Folkloric bands played to a young audience it’s popular music. All the

Turkey’s Lost Treasure: Story of a Soldier and Lebanese Turkmen Community (By Joe Hammoura)

It wasn’t until 1989 when a Lebanese soldier was overheard speaking Turkish words by his commander that Turkey found out about the existence of a Turkmen community in Lebanon. The soldier coming from the small village of Qawashra in Northern Lebanon and identified

Turkish Foreign Policy Under the AKP Rule: The Limited Role of Turkey in Lebanon (By Joe Hammoura)

ABSTRACT During the last decade, Turkish foreign policy exhibited a heightened interest in the Middle East thereby inaugurating a sharp departure from a long foreign policy tradition which relegated the region to the backwater. The conspicuous examples of this shift are Turkey’s keen

The Kurds of Lebanon: identity, activism and ideology (By Clare Maxwell)

Many members of the Kurdish community in Lebanon cannot give a solid answer to the question of whether they consider themselves Kurdish first and foremost, or Lebanese. It’s a conundrum shared by many other national and ethnic groups in the country, who arrived in

Dawud Pasha and Ottoman Mount Lebanon (By Bedros Torossian)

Introduction: To begin with, the establishment of the Mutasarrifiyya in Ottoman Mount Lebanon during the year 1861 was of great significance. It was introduced in the light of large number of reforms that were taking place within the Ottoman territories during the nineteenth

A New Feminist Wave in Lebanon or the Path to Democratization (By Pamela Chrabieh)

  The study of Feminist/Women’s movements not only contributes to our understanding of women’s experiences of political and social change, but also helps to bridge the gaps between local activism and feminist theory. Feminist claims and organizations in Lebanon and most Western Asian

Gender-based violence against Syrian refugees in Lebanon (By Yeghia Tashjian)

Gender-based violence against Syrian refugees in Lebanon International Rescue Committee identified three main challenges facing Syrian female refugees; first, sexual exploitation and harassment; second, the increase in domestic violence which makes them feel that their homes are not safe; and third, early and