By Lauren Conroy
This summer, I conducted research in Beirut, Lebanon, where I spoke with representatives from various small and medium sized Syrian NGOs working in the Beirut area about their peacebuilding work as well as the most significant security threats they faced. The security and legal situation for Syrian NGOs operating in Lebanon is tenuous at best, and for many groups it poses a constant risk of deportation and fines. This meant that many individuals were uncomfortable or unauthorized to substantively discuss their work with me, knowing my intention to publish what I learned. I did however speak off the record with individuals from Lebanese and Syrian NGOs, and officers from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees working with Syrian refugees. Many organizations are in limbo as they map out how they can continue their work strengthening Syrian civil society with President Assad’s continued presidency. Individuals also expressed concern over the Trump Administration’s inconsistencies when it comes to U.S. engagement in Syria, with one person informing me that the belief among many Syrians is that Trump has ceded all influence regarding the outcome in Syria to Russia.
Is there anything you wish you would have known before leaving and why?
Yes. I wish I had realized in advance that Eid al Adha (the second [and holier] of two Islamic holidays celebrated worldwide each year) fell during my time in Lebanon. While my timing was limited due to summer classes, I would have flagged this for those I planned to meet to ensure they were in town over the holiday week. The difficult thing is, often the exact dates of Eid are not decided until about a week before the holiday, because they are determined by the lunar calendar. Fortunately, this only impacted two of my planned meetings, both of which were rescheduled to be held over Skype after I returned to the U.S.
Why did you choose this particular country?
I decided to conduct research in Lebanon because it’s a country and region I have a professional history with. After graduating undergrad I lived in Lebanon for a period of time, and, for the first five years of my career worked at an international peace and security NGO where I focused on the Syrian conflict, facilitating trainings for Syrians in Lebanon and Turkey. The SSP research grant allowed me to return to Lebanon and explore how people living in the country understand not only regional and national security, but also what they perceive as the greatest threats to their individual security. I was interested in understanding this because, in Washington, DC, security is, necessarily, often discussed on the macro-level. I believe it is important to incorporate the experiences of individual people, and take them into consideration when developing policy solutions.
What is the biggest lesson you took away from this experience?
I expected the prominent security concerns of Lebanese and Syrians living in the country to be the war in Syria and the fragile peace with Israel. Instead what I found is that most of the people I spoke with - Lebanese and Syrians living in Lebanon - are most threatened by economic insecurity. Almost fifty percent of the state’s GDP comes from combined foreign aid and remittances. Many Lebanese, for better or for worse, live above their means, taking out a plethora of loans to purchase items ranging from luxury cars to elaborate weddings. Accounts of the unemployment rate vary significantly, with some regions reporting as high as 53% unemployment. The state is wholly unequipped to deliver basic services to its population, never mind the over one million Syrian and Palestinian refugees in Lebanon. Based on conversations, my biggest take away is that if statewide conflict does erupt in Lebanon, the cause will be economic issues, not violent extremism or conflict with Israel.
Is there anything you wish you would have known before leaving and why?
Yes. I wish I had realized in advance that Eid al Adha (the second [and holier] of two Islamic holidays celebrated worldwide each year) fell during my time in Lebanon. While my timing was limited due to summer classes, I would have flagged this for those I planned to meet to ensure they were in town over the holiday week. The difficult thing is, often the exact dates of Eid are not decided until about a week before the holiday, because they are determined by the lunar calendar. Fortunately, this only impacted two of my planned meetings, both of which were rescheduled to be held over Skype after I returned to the U.S.
Why did you choose this particular country?
I decided to conduct research in Lebanon because it’s a country and region I have a professional history with. After graduating undergrad I lived in Lebanon for a period of time, and, for the first five years of my career worked at an international peace and security NGO where I focused on the Syrian conflict, facilitating trainings for Syrians in Lebanon and Turkey. The SSP research grant allowed me to return to Lebanon and explore how people living in the country understand not only regional and national security, but also what they perceive as the greatest threats to their individual security. I was interested in understanding this because, in Washington, DC, security is, necessarily, often discussed on the macro-level. I believe it is important to incorporate the experiences of individual people, and take them into consideration when developing policy solutions.
What is the biggest lesson you took away from this experience?
I expected the prominent security concerns of Lebanese and Syrians living in the country to be the war in Syria and the fragile peace with Israel. Instead what I found is that most of the people I spoke with - Lebanese and Syrians living in Lebanon - are most threatened by economic insecurity. Almost fifty percent of the state’s GDP comes from combined foreign aid and remittances. Many Lebanese, for better or for worse, live above their means, taking out a plethora of loans to purchase items ranging from luxury cars to elaborate weddings. Accounts of the unemployment rate vary significantly, with some regions reporting as high as 53% unemployment. The state is wholly unequipped to deliver basic services to its population, never mind the over one million Syrian and Palestinian refugees in Lebanon. Based on conversations, my biggest take away is that if statewide conflict does erupt in Lebanon, the cause will be economic issues, not violent extremism or conflict with Israel.