ABSTRACT
This chapter analyzes the nature of the Syrian refugee influx in Lebanon and the social, political, security and economic ramifications. The particular nature of Syrian refugees in Lebanon and the unique relations of their hosting country with the country they fled from have contributed to a relative coping of Syrian refugees in Lebanon. The highest percentage of Syrian refugees in the Middle East has found refuge in Lebanon. The chapter explores which factors have contributed to a mitigation of tensions in Lebanon with regards to the Syrian refugee crisis and to what extent these factors are able to diffuse tensions for more time to come. Prior to the Syrian refugee crisis, the main groups of conflict-related refugee groups in Lebanon were Palestinians and Iraqis, with smaller numbers of other nationalities such as from Sudan. The fine line between voluntary economic migration and involuntary conflict-related refugees is highly contested in the current context of Syrians coming to Lebanon.
