Lebanon’s Sectarian Dynamics & the Israel-Hezbollah War

As tensions escalate between Israel and Hezbollah, the specter of conflict looms large over Lebanon, where a potential war will play out against a complex mosaic of religious and ethnic divides. Lebanon is home to a number of ethnic and religious groups, including Maronite Christians, Sunni and Shia Muslims, and the Druze. Each has its own identity and political representation. Their historical relationships with Israel, allegiances within Lebanon’s fractured political landscape, and relationships with each other will influence the outcome of a potential war. ...While the Lebanese constitution guarantees representation for each of the 18 officially recognized religious sects in the government, military, and civil service, this principle primarily manifests in a unique sectarian power-sharing arrangement for the nation’s three top leadership positions. This arrangement mandates that the President must be a Maronite Christian, the Prime Minister a Sunni Muslim, and the Speaker of Parliament a Shia Muslim.