The genealogy of social and political mobilization in Lebanon under a neoliberal sectarian regime (2009–2019)

ABSTRACT

This article adopts a structural, class-based and a political economy approach to the October 17 2019 Revolution in Lebanon inspired by David Harvey’s reading of neoliberalism, class struggles and class alliances. Starting from the re-emergence of a class-based discourse in the streets, and the widespread popular mobilization that crossed social classes, sectarian and regional divides, the article sets out to show that neoliberal sectarianism in Lebanon polarized society between those who control political power and rent seeking capital, and Lebanon’s discontented middle class, and a dispossessed working class. It sets out to argue that the structural effects of neoliberal sectarianism on social classes ushered in the wave of mobilization setting the stage for the 2019 protests. The article also offers preliminary reflections on post 2019 organizing and the challenges to cross-class alliance formation that are needed to shift the balance of class power away from the powerful elites.

KEYWORDS:

• Structuralism and regime change
• neoliberal sectarianism
• Lebanon’s October 17 Revolution
• social classes
• alliances

Acknowledgements

The author would like to thank Janine Clark and Francesco Cavatorta for their great support, Bassel Salloukh for reading and commenting on an earlier draft of this article, and interviewees who took the time to share their rich experiences during these very difficult times in Lebanon.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 Interviewees orally consented to take part in the research and were all kept anonymous. Interviews took place online between January and March 2021.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Lara W. Khattab

Lara Khattab is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at the Department of Politics and International Relations in Mount Allison University, where she teaches courses in comparative politics and social justice. With Bassel Salloukh, Rabih Barakat, Jinan Al Habbal and Shoghig Mikaelian, she co-authored The politics of sectarianism in postwar Lebanon. Her research interests are at the intersection of critical theory, political economy, class analysis, and labour organizing in the Global South. Currently, she is conducting research on the Political Economy of Violence in the Northern Lebanon, Informality and Resistance.