Programme de bourses "Echanges Universitaires"

The evolving patterns of lebanese politics in post-syria lebanon
The perceptions of hizballah among members of the free patriotic movement

This work aims to shed light on the evolution processes of the Lebanese political arena after the withdrawal of Syrian troops in April 2005 by analyzing the perceptions of Hizballah among members of the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) now that the alliance between the two movements enters its fourth year.
I adopt different conceptualizations to show that Hizballah is an actor of its perceptions and therefore reaches out to the FPM constituency. In turn, I analyze how the FPM constituency’s perceptions of Hizballah are driven by its own leadership charisma (the magnetic figure of former general Michel Aoun) as well as the interdependency between this latter and the loose institutionalization within the FPM. Moreover I examine the political significance of the alliance and its impact in a context of harsh polarization of Lebanese politics after the withdrawal of Syria as an arbitrator of the post-conflict political system conceived according to the Ta’if agreements signed at the end of the civil war in1989.

Adresses:
Fouad Ilias
Avenue de Frontenex 34
1207 Genève
E-mail: fouad.ilias@gmail.com

Research Partner Institution
Institut Français du Proche-Orient (IFPO)
B.P. 11-1424
Beyrouth
Liban
E-Mail: cermoca@lb.refer.org