THE SYRIAN REFUGEE CRISIS FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF LEBANESE POLITICAL GROUPS
Date
2021
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Abstract
With the large influx of refugees into Lebanon, since the beginning of the Syrian crisis in 2011, fear of changes in demographics are putting pressures on an already fragile government infrastructure and an unreliable system of governance, which in turn, impacts the sensitive religious and political balance in the country. This research aims to look beyond the general fear of Syrian refugees radicalizing and into the perspective of different Lebanese political groups towards them with respect to categories of identity and difference. It will answer the following research question: What is the general understanding of the Syrian Refugee crisis, regarding the categories of identity and difference, from the perspective of Lebanese political groups? Looking into social identity, positioning, the system of axiology, threat narratives, and other dilemmas; the research will reveal the tension between various perspectives towards the Syrian refugee crisis in Lebanon. Along with background research, interviews with key political party groups’ spokespersons will be conducted. In addition, political parties’ constituents will participate in a questionnaire on the subject matter. Thematic analysis will then be used as a constructionist method to look into clusters/themes that can highlight patterns or trends to engage with peoples’ experiences, understanding, representation, and construction of meaning to provide a rich account of the data collected. Therefore, my research aims to contribute to the literature on refugee-host dynamics and to inform policy by giving space for political leaders and their electorates to share their concerns, needs, strategies, and understanding of the crisis. This will help foster recommendations to address the subject matter.