Conflict and Violence in Lebanon: Confrontation in the Middle East

Conflict and Violence in Lebanon examines the complex historical and political dynamics that led to Lebanon's civil war and regional instability in the 1970s. The book analyzes the internal Lebanese power structures and external influences that contributed to the breakdown of peace. Through historical documentation and political analysis, Khalidi traces the development of sectarian tensions and the impact of Palestinian refugee populations on Lebanon's delicate communal balance. The text covers key events and decisions by various Lebanese factions, regional powers, and international actors during this pivotal period. The book includes detailed examination of Lebanon's unique political system, demographic shifts, and the role of neighboring states in Lebanese affairs. Khalidi draws on his expertise as a historian and political scientist to present the multifaceted nature of the conflict. This work stands as an essential text for understanding how internal divisions and external pressures can transform a relatively stable nation into a battlefield for competing regional interests.

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The Lebanese Civil War by Sune Haugbolle The book analyzes how different Lebanese communities remember and interpret the civil war through cultural and political lenses.

From Beirut to Jerusalem by Thomas Friedman This work chronicles Lebanon's descent into civil war and regional conflict through experiences as a foreign correspondent in Beirut during the 1980s.

➤ Walid Khalidi, born in Jerusalem in 1925, is considered one of the most influential Palestinian historians and has served as a professor at Oxford, the American University of Beirut, and Harvard University. ➤ The book was published in 1979, during a critical period of Lebanon's civil war, providing contemporary analysis of events as they were unfolding rather than retrospective study. ➤ The Lebanese Civil War (1975-1990) discussed in the book resulted in approximately 120,000 fatalities and led to the displacement of nearly one million people. ➤ Khalidi's work was one of the first major academic studies to examine the complex relationship between Palestinian refugee populations and Lebanese sectarian politics. ➤ The author coined the term "mental Iron Wall" to describe the psychological barrier between Israeli and Palestinian narratives, a concept that continues to influence Middle Eastern political discourse.