ABSTRACT
Lebanon is a deeply divided country with a long tradition for power-sharing between the three major confessional communities; Christians, Sunni Muslims and Shia Muslims. These communities include a number of confessional sub-groups. This chapter discusses how the electoral system and existing power-sharing institutions could be instrumental in promoting peace and democratic stability. The Taif agreement was initiated by the Arab League and was as much an agreement between rival external actors with a stake in Lebanon's political future, notably Syria and Saudi Arabia, as it was a deal between Lebanese factions. Lebanon became the heartland of Palestinian resistance after the expulsion of Palestine liberation organisation (PLO) fighters and infrastructure following their defeat in the 1970 civil war in Jordan and on the basis of the 1969 Cairo agreement giving the Palestinians de facto self-rule within the camps.
