Transforming Conflict within Lebanon through Efforts of Justpeace:
General Material Designation
[Thesis]
First Statement of Responsibility
Ata, Fred Aziz
Title Proper by Another Author
Reinterpreting History to Support a Hermeneutics of Citizenship
.PUBLICATION, DISTRIBUTION, ETC
Name of Publisher, Distributor, etc.
Harvard University
Date of Publication, Distribution, etc.
2019
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION
Specific Material Designation and Extent of Item
93
DISSERTATION (THESIS) NOTE
Dissertation or thesis details and type of degree
ALM
Body granting the degree
Harvard University
Text preceding or following the note
2019
SUMMARY OR ABSTRACT
Text of Note
This thesis explores the following question: can conflict transformation in Lebanon occur through a process of identifying, locating, and transforming multiple forms of violence, where the use of isolationist narratives that represent cultural violence has supported conflict, political hegemony, religious oppression, and disunity in nationalism? Lebanon's history of colonialism, border formation, external and internal influences has resulted in sectarianism and the use of isolationist narratives that represent cultural violence. Sectarianism is further driven by the country's confessional political system, which allots political positions based on religious affiliation. This has resulted in a religious/secular binary, defined by Omer and Springs, that causes non-sectarian fractures. This binary can wrongfully support religion as the source factor for conflict rather than identify other factors from various dimensions. Galtung's typologies of violence are utilized to locate all violence, beyond direct forms, and to work toward efforts of justpeace. Moore's understanding of religion is used to help identify more factors contributing to violence, which also aids in locating reformation within religious language and helping deconstruct the religious/secular binary. These methods will lead to Omer's hermeneutics of citizenship, whereby Lebanese nationalism can be reimagined to be more inclusive. The results and conclusions show that justpeace efforts exist in the Lebanese landscape regardless of religious affiliation. They also show that narratives have and can be used to support pluralism and unity (cultural peace), and that Lebanese citizens support these efforts as long as their well-being needs are being met.