Lessons of Lebanon: The Economics of War and Development

Since 1945, over 200 intra-state conflicts have taken place in countries that achieved independence from colonial rule after World War II. The case of Lebanon offers a striking illustration of these interlocking influences on projects of national economics development. The persistently sectarian nature of the country’s political instutions, the relatively poor quality of governance and the major civil war that engulfed the country from 1975 to 1990, together define not only the context in which the achievements and failures of Lebanese development must be assessed, but also the continuing challenges that it must face in the era of globalization. This text offers an in-depth analysis of Lebanese economic development during the second half of the 20th century, with special emphasis on the civil war and its aftermath. Makdisi offers a definitive assessment of the principal phases of national development since Lebanese independence in the 1940s, and a study of those conditions requisite for sustainable development for Lebanon, as for many other developing countries.