Clara, I like that you point out the concessions that the Christians continually made to the Muslim factions in the country. This is definitely an important aspect of the gradual decline of Lebanon. However, I wonder how the future of Lebanon would be different if the Maronites did not make so many concessions. Part of me feels like this could have produced conflict, but this conflict would not be nearly as bad in its outcomes as the actual conflicts that occurred among the groups in Lebanon. The pluralist nature of Lebanon’s history continues to be a fascinating case study in Near East relations.
