Lebanon: The Rise and Fall of a Secular State under Siege

Why has secularism faced such challenges in the Middle East and in Lebanon in particular? In light of dominating headlines about the spread of sectarianism and the so-called death of Arab secularism, Mark Farha addresses the need for a thorough examination of the history of secular thought and practice in the region. By offering a comprehensive, systematic account of the underlying ideological, socio-economic, and political factors involved, Farha provides a new understanding of the historical roots of secularism as well as the potential causes for the continued resistance a fully deconfessionalized state faces both in Lebanon and in the region at large. Drawing on a vast corpus of primary and secondary sources to examine the varying political parties and ideologies involved, this book provides a fresh approach to the study of religion and politics in the Arab world and beyond.

• Traces the concise lineage of the term and concept of secularism in Arab political discourse from its origins to present-day usage
• Introduces a new framework for understanding the success or failure of the secular state in Lebanon and the wider Middle East
• Includes Arabic sources, providing insights from a host of Arab and Lebanese secular voices