Lebanon is a small country in Middle East Region. It is one of the most affected countries by the Syrian Crisis. This study is important not just to understand the multifaceted Lebanese crisis as, at the same time, to fully approach the Damascus-Beirut relations and new perceptions in the Middle East Region. Syrian intervention in Lebanon is one of the up-down precedents of Syrian Foreign policy. Historically speaking, Lebanon and Syria were connected since the beginning of 20th century, where Lebanon became part of French mandate. Ottoman “left” the dominance of Middle East region and Middle East States started to make their own statements around the neighbours. In 2008, the Syrian-Lebanon diplomatic relations were established for the first time. It is certain that Syria and Lebanon have joined forces in the past and both are no stranger to each other. The divergence of Syrian-Lebanese connection ties persists in Lebanon claims of becoming an independent state, with non-state actor’s intervention, inclusively from Syria. Nonetheless, it is impossible to separate for complete the two countries, due to the historical context that influences the conduct of Syria in Lebanon.
Major efforts were accomplished by external actors, such as U.S and France to abolish Syrian presence in Lebanon, and despite the conflict in Syria, Damascus continues to be involved in Lebanon affairs. Currently, the participation of Lebanon in Syrian Conflict is considered a threat to western countries. Lebanon faced many obstacles and it is characterized by political instability and intensive bargaining vis-à-vis with regional and foreign States. The problem resides on the partial fragmentation that gradually affects politics, economy, and society. In result of the widespread of Syrian Conflict, the demographic situation was consequently aggravated by the refugee movement and the terrorist attacks on the borders with Syria and Israel. If we look up the main problems inside of International Relations, the first that comes to our mind is the “refugee” issue. Lebanon is facing one of the strongest crises due to the number of refugees that comes every year. Lebanon is one of the countries which receive a larger number of refugees without conditions to do it so. On the other hand, Syria became a failure State, ruled by an authoritarian regime where democratic values and people's demands are not being listened. Syria is not more than a nation without a land. Syrian government pretends to be a part of Lebanon affairs.
The case of Lebanon is even more complicated due to the internal rivalries among the different ethnical groups. As a matter of fact, Lebanon and its approach to the Syrian crisis cannot be separated from regional forces. Hezbollah is strongly backed by Iran, which is undoubtedly pushing it to strengthen its material support for Assad. Meanwhile, the Gulf States led by Saudi Arabia supports March 14 and already used propaganda inside of Lebanon to mobilize people against 8 March coalition. Another interesting aspect is the interest of Qatar in Lebanon. As Saudi Arabia, Qatar is supporting the Sunni community against Assad and Syrian Assad pro-regime. Indeed, Lebanon territory is not more than a battlefield, where disputes are raised to the dangerous ground and where regional players are fighting for their interests. For Iran, it’s essential to keep up the strength of Hezbollah to make sure its deterrence capability against Israel, and protect Assad instead of incentivizing a non-prominent future in what left of Syrian territory. For the Saudis, this same struggle makes Lebanon a key focus of interest. Saudis search detonate Syrian influence on the Middle East and make Saudi Arabia the number one leader. In addition to these political forces, growing structural pressures associated with the dramatic Syrian refugee inflow – now accounting for about 20 percent of the population – is throwing up new challenges.
Unlike in Turkey and Jordan where the refugee burden is directly been carried by the central state and international aid agencies, refugees in Lebanon absorbed by local communities, without meaningful support, feeding growing strains. Lebanon would be faced with a new refugee problem to rival that of the Palestinians. To sum up, Syria and Lebanon will always be connected. If Syria falls, Lebanon will fall too. Syrian Crisis impact on Lebanon is explained by multiple disputes among domestic and foreign political actors in the region, culminated in a massive cleavage on Sunni-Shiite communities. Also, refugee issue and prominent matters are also causes of the Impact of Syrian Crisis on Lebanon. Lebanon involvement in Syrian Crisis is due to its geographical position. Lebanon stability depends on Syrian stability. It’s urgent to find a solution to guaranty Lebanon's stability. The thesis is divided into three main chapters that compose this research. It presents a logical and methodological structure, underlining the theoretical framework, historical background and the central thematic as a spotlight. This dissertation comprises many ideas related to different subjects which are related to the case of study. The first part of the research includes the concept security as theoretical frame under Neoliberal and Neorealism perspectives. Producing an analytical project on Middle East studies involves a deep knowledge of different contexts, societal framework and the acceptance of the intrinsically relation of politics and religion. Notwithstanding, security and foreign policy perceptions are also a focus of international relations conceptual framework. The second chapter resumes the historical background of Lebanon namely from cold War period until the recent events during the wakening of Arab Spring. It concerns the domestic and foreign policies settlements towards an international and regional perspective, claiming as well the main factors that destabilize Lebanon during the 1960s which led subsequently to the Lebanese Civil War of 1975-1990. Producing the historical context is essential to demonstrate the precedents that overtook in the cold war period, as the involvement of Syria in Lebanon, which is probably the most relevant aspect that we can connect with Lebanese foreign policy in recent days. In the segment, I attempt to summarize the main periods of Lebanese governments; including the different phases of Lebanese Civil War (1975-1990) allied to Syrian foreign policy implications in Lebanon and to culminate on the 2000 Israel withdrawal, the emergence of Hezbollah as a political identity and 2005 Syrian withdrawal in the light of ex-prime minister Rakif Hariri Assassination. The time that succeeds those events are mentioned, such 2006 Hezbollah-Israeli war, Doha Accords and lately the brick of Arab spring in Lebanon. Last but not the least; the final chapter focus on the Syrian Civil war spill-over effect in Lebanon. The attitudes of both countries towards the region and the Syrian crisis issue will be analyzed in the exponent of Refugee crisis implications for Syria and Lebanon. It is important to mention that Iran-Saudi struggle and sectarian division in Lebanon in the recent years will be also a constitutive part of this dissertation.
The Middle East region can be understood as a battlefield among foreign and domestic countries, by multiple changes and dynamics that widespread into its neighbours and affects the other regions in different behaviours. Recently, Lebanon crisis has been accentuated by socio-economical instability, due to the Syrian civil war and lately by the events that succeeded, particularly, the refugee movement and the emergence of armed groups that destabilized Lebanon that led to the Lebanese intervention in Syria. To sum up, Syria and Lebanon will always be connected. If Syria falls, Lebanon will fall too. Syrian Crisis impact on Lebanon is explained by multiple disputes among domestic and foreign political actors in the region, culminated in a massive cleavage on Sunni-Shiite communities. Also, refugee issue and prominent matters are also causes of the Impact of Syrian Crisis on Lebanon