The Free Patriotic Movement and Hizbullah Political Entente: A Paradigm Shift in Lebanese Identity and State Formation?

Abstract

The Arab Spring, which is also referred to as the Arab Awakening, began with the Tunisian popular protests that forced out the former President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali on January 14, 2011.¹ This popular movement inspired the masses throughout the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) to demand immediate political, social, and economic change. The direct impact of this revolutionary wave varies from change of regimes in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, and Yemen, the implementation of constitutional reforms in Morocco, the dissolution of parliaments in Jordan and Kuwait, to turmoil in the other Arab states.² In fact, the impact of the Arab upheaval is still ongoing and might not only alter the political and geographical map of the region, but is increasingly affecting the relationship between regional and international powers, whose interests have clashed, especially when responding to the crisis in Syria. The United States along with its allies have been reluctant to do anything beyond calling for President Assad to step down. Russia and China have vetoed all UN sanctions against Syria.³ The Gulf countries, mainly Qatar and Saudi Arabia, have supplied the Syrian opposition with weapons,⁴ and Iran has offered to extend its financial aid.⁵