ABSTRACT
Lebanon is unique in the Middle East and among the Arab states. It is neither a monarchy nor a radical-nationalist state. It is not completely authoritarian, though it has engaged in harsh re pression; yet it is not an open democracy, though most sectarian groups do participate in elections and are represented in parliament. Its governing system is based on confessionalism, a system in which decision-making structures are proportion ately allocated according to the size of different sectarian groups in society. This has been the only way the country’s competing communal groups have been able to work together. Lebanon has, in general, struggled to make a legitimate democratic process work, but four factors have hampered its ability to do so.
