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Article: A question of faith. (religion in Lebanese politics)(Survey of Lebanon)
- Article from:
- The Economist (US)
- Article date:
- February 24, 1996
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1996 Economist Newspaper Ltd. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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THE raison d'etre of Lebanon is to preserve the Christians in the Middle East." The comment comes not from a Maronite bigot but from an aspiring Shia politician who has just been explaining the rudiments of vote-rigging ("buy" the key man in each street to deliver the votes of his neighbours). His remark is neither hostile nor sarcastic; like most Lebanese Muslims, he appreciates that the country's liberal, cosmopolitan flavour depends on some Christian spice. Only Hizbullah occasionally talks of "an Islamic Republic", quickly adding that "there is no compulsion in Islam."
How, then, can the Christians be preserved? The National Pact (which was never transcribed ...