Independent Lebanon: Switzerland of the East (1941-70)



Figure 1.--Lebanon after independence experienced three decades of relative stability and prosperity. Major problens did develop in 1958. The caption of this wire service photograph read, "A somber-faced brefoote boy with a miklitary baghanging from his shoulder marches with lebanese rebels as they move thriugh the street in Tripoli for one of the attacks which hve been plguing thvpro-Western government." The photo was dated July 13, 1958.

It was not until World War II that Lebanon became fully independent. Once the tide of battle turned, the Free French proceeded to grant idependence (1943). Until this time France unilateraly suspended the Constitution whenever it experienced problems. With the departure of the French, this was no longer possible. Beshara el-Khouri was elected the first President of independent Lebanon. President Beshara el-Khouri called on a Moslem Sunnite, Ryad el-Solh to serve as primeminister and form a Cabinet of Ministers. These two leaders helped craft the National Pact, a verbal agreement never formally established by the government. The National Pact defined Lebanon as an independent country with an "Arabic aspect", but not an Arabic country. The president was to be a Christian Maronite, the primemMinister a Moslem Sunnite, and the president of the parliament a Moslem Shi'ite. All the different religious comminities were to be representefd in the cabinet. The importance of the positionoffered were tied to the relative size of the religious communities. Lebanon unlike the other countries in the region would not have one official religion. All religions would be recognized and represented. Lebanon's civil law was not entirely secular. The civil law allow for the use of religious laws over the members of that religious community alone and not imposed on others. Here the major religious law was Islamic Sharia Law. The different religious communities lived in relative peace after independence and the departure of the French. Political power was divided between Christians, Shia and Sunni Muslims. In the relatively stable envirinmrnt, the Lebanese developed a thriving economy based on business services -- banking and finance, transport and trade facilities – for other Arab countries. Lebanon was the only Arab country to achieve economic success without oil. The Lebanese economy was fueled by the vigor of its entrepreneurs and not just pumping oil. Lebanon did benefit from the oil wealth that flowed into the region. Beirut in particula experienced a period of prosperity fueled by "Petro-Dollars" and became an important financial center. The Arab oil countries used Lebanese banks abd financeers. Lebanese engineers and businessmen working in the Gulf (Persian Gulf) countries sent home their wages. Thanks in part to French rule, the Lebanese were better educated than was the case in many Arab countries. Lebanon came to be called the Switzerland of thec East. Lebanon was more diverse tham the Arab countries of the region. Not only did the popultion include Christiand and Druze, but the Muslim population was divided. Lebanon becamne a rare country in the region where diversity was accepted. The instability in surrounding countries caused an influx of immigration from neighboring countries, in part individuald facing religious and political persecution. Tthousands of skilled laborers, entrepreneurs and intellectuals soughtv refuge in Lebanon. In addition, Lebanon’s democratic traditions, attachment to freedom of speech and expression and its educated population enabled the Republic to become the cultural, academic and medical center of the region. The National Pact was an informal arrangement. It required the cooperation of the different communities. Problems surfaced (1958). Gradually there was less and less commitmnt toncompromise and tolertion. This was epecially btrue with the arrival of the Palestine Liberation Orgsnization (1971).

World War II (1939-45)

It was not until World War II that Lebanon became fully independent. Once the tide of battle turned beyond the Eastern Mediterranean, the Free French proceeded to grant idependence (1943).

Independence

Until this time France unilateraly suspended the Constitution whenever it experienced problems. With the departure of the French, this was no longer possible. Beshara el-Khouri was elected the first President of independent Lebanon. President Beshara el-Khouri called on a Moslem Sunnite, Ryad el-Solh to serve as primeminister and form a Cabinet of Ministers. Lebanon was one of the founding members of the United Nations and the Arab League. A noted Lebanese scholar, Dr Charles Malek, was appointed to head the team that wrote the Charter of Human Rights for the United Nations. The growth of fundamentalism in modern Lebanon means that many Lebanese now reject aspects of the U.N. Charter, especially provisions concerning women.

The National Pact

President Beshara el-Khouri and Primeminister Ryad el-Solh helped craft the National Pact, a verbal agreement never formally established by the government. The National Pact defined Lebanon as an independent country with an "Arabic aspect", but not an Arabic country. The president was to be a Christian Maronite, the primeminister a Moslem Sunnite, and the president of the parliament a Moslem Shi'ite. All the different religious comminities were to be representefd in the cabinet. The importance of the position offered were tied to the relative size of the religious communities. Lebanon unlike the other countries in the region would not have one official religion. All religions would be recognized and represented. Lebanon's civil law was not entirely secular. The civil law allow for the use of religious laws over the members of that religious community alone and not imposed on others. Here the major religious las wasIslamic Sharia Law.

Religious Tolerance and Economic Development

The different religious communities lived in relative peace after independence and the departure of the French. Political power was divided between Christians, Shia and Sunni Muslims. There was also a degree of tolerance for other groups such s the Druze and Jews. In the relatively stable environmrnt, the Lebanese which had a largely agricutural economy, developed a thriving economy based on business services -- banking and finance, transport and trade facilities. Te new financial institutions mostly serviced other Arab countries. Lebanon was the only Arab country to achieve real economic success without oil. The Lebanese economy was fueled by the vigor of its entrepreneurs and not just pumping oil. Lebanon did benefit from the oil wealth that flowed into the region from the oil states. Beirut in particula experienced a period of prosperity fueled by 'Petro-Dollars' and became an important financial center. The Arab oil countries used Lebanese banks abd financeers. Lebanese engineers and businessmen working in the Gulf (Persian Gulf) countries sent home their wages. Thanks in part to French rule, the Lebanese were better educated than was the case in many Arab countries. Lebanon came to be called the Switzerland of the East. Lebanon was more diverse tham the Arab countries of the region. Not only did the popultion include substantial numbers of Christiand as well as the Druze. The Muslim population was divided and often at loggerhead with each other. Lebanon becamne a rare country in the region where diversity was widely accepted. The instability in surrounding countries caused an influx of immigration from neighboring countries, in part individuald facing religious and political persecution. Thousands of skilled laborers, entrepreneurs and intellectuals soughtv refuge in stable, tolerant Lebanon. In addition, Lebanon’s democratic traditions, attachment to freedom of speech and expression and its educated population enabled the Republic to become the cultural, academic and medical center of the region.

Undoing of the National Pact

To create a new country is one matter. To create a national identity is another more complicated matter. Most Lebanese after independence continued to primarily identify with their religious communities whioch augered poorly on the future of the nation. The Lebnese National Pact was an informal arrangement without constitutional foundation. It required the cooperation of the different communities. The Muslim community felt disadvantaged by the Nationl Pact. Muslims were growing as portion of the population. And many did believe that they were not benefitting fairly from the country's prosperity. This was pArtialy true, but primarily because they were not as well educaed as the Christians. Derious problems surfaced (1958). Gradually there was less and less commitmnt to compromise and tolertion. Muslims rioted in Tripoli and Beirut and were joined by the DruDruses. This developed in a rebellion against the pro-Western Government President Camile Chamoun (1958). He asked for intervention by U.S. forces. Gen. Fouad Chehab(a Maronite Christian) became president. U.S. forces withdrew. An attempted military coup was put down by Gen. Chehab. Charles Helou became president (1964). Lebanon supported the other Arab countries in the Arab-Isreali War (1967). It did not, however, commit military forces. The final end to moderation and tolerance occurred with the arrival of the Palestine Liberation Orgsnization (PLO) after the Black September revolt in Jordan (1971). Lebanon soon found itseld fighting a debilitating civil war.








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Created: 7:49 AM 5/17/2012
Last updated: 6:59 AM 12/17/2012