Sammendrag
The Taif-agreement from 1990 had focus on reform of the Lebanese society. This thesis aim is to analyze three aspects of the Lebanese society; the political system, the Lebanese Armed Forces and the education system to understand their role on nation building in Lebanon. These aspects have been analyzed according to two premises. Firstly, that nation building in ethnic multi-communal states implies a common comprehensive state idea. Secondly, that nation building in ethnic multi-communal states is possible by introducing an institutional setting based on the balance of power.
The political system gives a perception of the content of the state idea in Lebanon. The implementation degree of the Lebanese Armed Forces and the education system give conditions for nation building.
My findings showed that a majority in Lebanon accepts a political system based on power-sharing between the communities. However, power-sharing is difficult to implant as long as religion is a strong cleavage in Lebanon. The consociation model might be the solution to the Lebanese society. The model is claimed to be more a method of being in control politically. The model is also dependent on whether Lebanon is a plural or coexistent society.
A national army is evident to the nation building process. The Lebanese Armed Forces has a strong relationship to Syria. The success of the LAF is dependent upon the relationship between Syria and Lebanon, and how the Syrians will be represented in Lebanon.
Education is important for the nation building process. There is a will among the elites in Lebanon to give e.g. the subject of history a common curriculum for all groups. The difficulty is to implement it and also the danger of making superficial curricula for the subject of history.
Nation building in Lebanon has to be according to the will of the masses. The analyzed concepts promote nation building, but the cleavages between the groups are not eliminated. To remove tradition from a country to assimilate it into a common concept is not a solution. The people of Lebanon want to live together as Lebanese, but they want also to keep their religious belonging. The question is what kind of nation Lebanon wants to become.