Anatomy of an opposition

Lebanon is known as a deeply divided society. The country’s political system divides power between Muslims and Christians, and sect-based identities shape social and political life. Yet, throughout its postwar period, Lebanon has also seen an increase in movements that oppose sectarian divisions. The book traces the anatomy of these diverse movements, examining their key characteristics, strategies, and internal tensions. Drawing on Pierre Bourdieu’s concepts, it analyses how resistance against sectarianism unfolds across five key fields: electoral politics, labour and class, urban space, gender and sexuality, and migration and refugee rights. Adopting an intersectional approach, it explores a broad range of cases, from mass protests to localized struggles for public space, showing how sectarianism intersects with other identities and hierarchies. While grounded in Lebanon, the book offers a broader framework for understanding identity politics in the Middle East and beyond.

Lebanon is known as a deeply divided society. The country’s political system divides power between Muslims and Christians, and sect-based identities shape social and political life. Yet, throughout its postwar period, Lebanon has also seen an increase in movements that oppose sectarian divisions. The book traces the anatomy of these diverse movements, examining their key characteristics, strategies, and internal tensions. Drawing on Pierre Bourdieu’s concepts, it analyses how resistance against sectarianism unfolds across five key fields: electoral politics, labour and class, urban space, gender and sexuality, and migration and refugee rights. Adopting an intersectional approach, it explores a broad range of cases, from mass protests to localized struggles for public space, showing how sectarianism intersects with other identities and hierarchies. While grounded in Lebanon, the book offers a broader framework for understanding identity politics in the Middle East and beyond.