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LEBANON
Alert’s long-term goal in Lebanon is to contribute to a political process that puts the interests of stability, peace and equality in Lebanon above confessional, sectarian or other communal differences, and manages conflicts (internal and external) without recourse to violence. Our project objective is to build knowledge and facilitate dialogue that helps transform the political process through allowing political actors with different confessional and partisan affiliations to build trust, debate issues and work cooperatively to address concerns facing their country. With support from the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), International Alert began working in Lebanon in 2009. Our first project year included research on peacebuilding organisations and approaches currently being used in Lebanon, and Dialogue activities with political actors. Our dialogue initiative culminated in December 2009 when after a series of preparation meetings, International Alert convened the leaders of the youth wings of 17 Lebanese political parties in London to discuss issues related to social and political reform. The London meeting represented the first time in nearly five years these party representatives had come together to discuss policy and reform issues. The workshop delegates produced a joint declaration reflecting their agreement on recommendations for reforms in education, youth employment and administrative decentralisation. The dialogue initiative helped to advance work on concrete issues, as well as the potential for cooperation on cross-cutting constituent needs and concerns. Projects
Alert’s main engagement in Lebanon focuses on working with young and emerging leaders in Lebanese politics and society. Together with participants and stakeholders, Alert aims to promote dialogue and cooperation between diverse Lebanese political actors on issues that promote greater political and socio-economic inclusion and equality.
CONNECTING PEACEBUILDING TO STRUCTURAL CHANGEIn Lebanon, there is interdependence between building lasting peace and stability and addressing the underlying structural challenges that face the Lebanese state and society. In other words, challenges associated with persistent economic inequality, different conceptions of national identity, the consociational political system which links political representation to religious identity, as well as paternalism and patriarchy, lead to conflict in Lebanese society. These structural challenges result in different sets of rights for different Lebanese citizens, a stymied process of socio-economic and political reforms, and, leave Lebanon vulnerable to intervention by external players. Since the Syrian withdrawal in 2005, many of the governance questions that have long faced Lebanon have once again been re-opened. In the last five years, negotiating these questions has resulted in periods of substantial political tension, stalemate, and even violent confrontation. Many argue that without a commitment to addressing structural issues and implementing needed reforms, the cycle of political gridlock and conflict will likely continue. With this way of understanding of the cycle of conflict in Lebanon, International Alert’s work focuses on bringing diverse and influential people and parties together to discuss and debate issues that face Lebanese communities. Our work highlights issues of young people, and issues of social and economic inclusion (i.e.: political participation of youth, young women in politics, underemployment and educational reform) as well as issues related to political reform (i.e.: administrative decentralisation, electoral reform, empowering municipalities). In 2010, International Alert embarks on its second dialogue series. Between June and December, Alert is holding three dialogue forums, each of which are compromised of four components: 1. research on the selected issue, 2. an educational conference, 3. dialogue and debate, and 4. publication / dissemination. The purpose of this dialogue series is to share knowledge and experience on the issues, engage in constructive debate, and discuss strategies for addressing societal challenges.
News and Events Workshop on Young Women in Political Parties: The Opportunities and Challenges of Women’s Political Engagement
1. Workshop Description
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