Syria's Effect on Lebanon

Abstract

The focus of this paper is to investigate and research the effect Syria has on Lebanon. The instability of the Lebanese political alliances and economic, social and security of the Syrian conflict in the country since the beginning of the Cedars of events led throughout the crisis the government to take a position as neutral as possible. The army and Lebanese intelligence services, were deeply affected by the Syrian tutelage, corporatism and clienteles and therefore It seems hardly surprising that they are not among the fiercest opponents of Damascus.

Table of Contents

Introduction4

The Impact of Syrian Conflict on Lebanon5

Social Fabric6

Conclusion6

References8

Syria's Effect on Lebanon

Introduction

It is necessary to recall that Syria was able to maintain a strong influence in Lebanon after the withdrawal of their army, in April 2005. Emile Lahoud and Nabih Berri, Presidents of the Republic and the Parliament, and allies of Damascus remained in power due to Syrian support and while in power they defended Syrian interests, and the Prime Minister, Fouad Siniora, ignored by Damascus and pressured by the new opposition majority in the Future Movement, composed of Hezbollah, Amal and the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) of General Aoun, excluded the government from participation despite its good score electoral elections of June 2005 (New York Times, 2012).

This new political divide reflected rising tensions inherent in Lebanese politics but much more organized primarily around the role and Syrian influence in the country. Indeed, the Doha Agreement in May 2008, providing for the election of a new President of the Republic and the formation of a national unity government, provided Syria the opportunity to claim that it wanted to lower tensions in Lebanon. In the aftermath, following peace negotiations with Israel, and the opening of relations between states with Lebanon, there appeared to be signs of progress between the two countries in 2008 (Carter et al, 2008).

However, few concrete changes are noted in the bilateral relationship, as evidenced by the many Syrian-Lebanese disputes still pending. That they relate to the lack of delineation and effective control of the border, Palestinian weapons outside the camps, Lebanese prisoners in Syria and, of course, the slow revision of bilateral agreements from Taif, Syria influences Lebanon (New York Times, 2012).

The Impact of Syrian Conflict on Lebanon

Close relationship between the two countries has exposed the Lebanon to the economic, social and security of the current Syrian crisis (Carter et al, 2008). The Lebanese ...