Lebanon’s regional role is not enough for prosperity

by Kamal Sanjakdar

December 2003

BEIRUT - In the past month, Lebanon has been the focal point of international media because of its relation with major international events and because of its volatile political and economic situation.

This reflects the insignificance of the Lebanese role on the level of regional and international politics and economic fronts; a reality that most Lebanese politicians still fail to fully grasp.

Ever since Lebanon was founded in 1920, Lebanese intellectuals have been arguing that the importance and even raison-d’être of the country has been based on its geographic location and historical role of being a passageway and consequently a link between the East and the West.

Michel Shiha, a journalist and businessman who masterminded Lebanon’s creation, as well as other intellectuals, were the main advocates of this theory. Successive post-independence governments picked the theory up and set it as the backbone of their agendas.

Results of post-war policies proved that the original theory behind founding Lebanon has been wrong in the first place.

An economy with a $32 billion debt, immigration of Lebanese youth, the deteriorating status of civil liberties and democratic practices in the country have wrecked Lebanon, yet remained insignificant for the international community.

One could argue that Paris I and II were a proof that the Lebanese are not alone. But were these two conferences of donor countries a sustainable solution?

Others might say that the economic role Lebanon plays and its human resources are an asset but is not Dubai now the main financial hub in the region and are not most Arab elite now educated in Europe and the United States instead of universities in Lebanon?

German-mediated negotiations between Hizbullah and Israel over the swap of prisoners, the attempted investigation by the Lebanese authorities of Hamas leaders’ bank accounts, the commemoration of the Sabra and Shatila massacres in Palestinian refugee camps in 1982 are what appears on the news about Lebanon in the West.

In those areas, Lebanon is the scene of events where the role of the Lebanese people is secondary compared to regional power centers such as Israel, Syria, Iran, Egypt and Saudi Arabia.

The role of Lebanon as a resistance against Israel, though very important and necessary, remains insufficient for turning the country into a regional leader and not a follower on the regional political and economic levels.

To achieve progress for Lebanon, the nation’s mission statement set by Shiha and adopted later by Prime Minister Rafik Hariri has to evolve and adapt to the new global challenges.

Developing a productive economy, adopting social and political reforms are a must in order to promote Lebanon on the regional and international levels.

Political reforms, on the other hand, should pave the way for a true democracy, transparency, accountability, secularism, citizenship as well as several other civil concepts to promote an equitable society that would in turn disseminate a positive image to the sought market.

It is worth mentioning here that the Iraqi people are currently facing the same problem. Iraqis are being related to the allegedly far-hidden weapons of mass destruction or are being perceived in terms of their relationship with their neighbouring countries.

Only a few people talk about Iraqi standards of living in the post-Saddam Hussein era. In political debates, the main concern seems to be how to thwart potential terrorist activities, how to fit best the current leadership within the region, but never what to offer the Iraqi population.

Over the last couple of decades, some Lebanese political leaders believed they could rely on the importance of some Lebanese issues on the international scene to achieve their goals. “Christian presence”, “fiscal paradise”, “role model of coexistence” or “bridge between the East and the West” are arguments that proved to be unfounded.

Those who advocated them turned out to be looking for some regional circumstances to exploit and reach power.

Finally, being the spearhead of the resistance against Israeli occupation is not enough for the prosperity of the country.

The current government’s economic policies are also not adequate to promote Lebanon’s regional role. Meanwhile, betting on the fluctuation of regional affairs and not on economic domestic strengths will only bring more instability and deterioration to the lives of the Lebanese.

Kamal Sanjakdar is the editor-in-chief of Alternative