A comprehensive examination of the complex domestic environment and the quarrelsome neighbors that contribute to Lebanon's condition as one of the most violent and unstable countries in the Middle East.
Global Security Watch—Lebanon is the first volume to consider all factors—political, economic, religious, and actions by its neighbors—that have contributed to Lebanon’s violent past and that shape its current security status.
In Global Security Watch—Lebanon, author David Sorenson explores Lebanon’s arcane—almost dysfunctional—political structure and economic system, as well as the complex religious makeup of a country that is home to Christians, Jews, and Arabs with no majority faith. Sorenson also looks at how the nation has often served as a focal point of diplomatic and military conflict for other nations, including Syria, Iran, and Israel, as well as how ill-informed American policies toward Lebanon have ultimately harmed American strategic interests in the Middle East.
Features
- Primary source documents include the Preamble to the 1926 Lebanese Constitution, provisions of the 1989 Ta'if Accords, the report of the assassination of Rafiq Hariri, and UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended the Israeli-Hezbollah war of 2006
- Includes a chronology of key events in the history of Lebanon from earliest human civilizations there to the 2006 war
David S. Sorenson, PhD, is professor of international security at the U.S. Air Force Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL. He earned his degree from the Graduate School of International Studies at the University of Denver, and has written five books on the Middle East and American national security policy.
Reviews
"Sorensen (international security, US Air Force Air War College) offers a portrait of Lebanon that focuses on security issues (as traditionally defined). He describes the country's modern history, its demographic make-up and how it is related to political and economic development (particularly important in the case of Lebanon and its 'confessional' political system), the nature and activities of Hezbollah, the interaction of Lebanon's political actors and outside regional forces, the role of Lebanon's military forces, and US policy towards Lebanon. ... Appendixes include biographies, a chronology, a handful of documents (including the text of the 1989 Taif Agreement), and lists of presidents and prime ministers of Lebanon."—Reference & Research Book News, February 1, 2010
"The book is readable and concise and concludes with some helpful appendices that provide biographies of selected Lebanese political fi gures, a chronology of Lebanon’s history, some official documents, as well as a list of Lebanon’s
presidents and prime ministers. ... Considering the essential need for a simple rendering of Lebanese politics for
students and the general public, this volume is a helpful one..."—The Middle East Journal, January 1, 2011
Praeger Security International
International security in the 21st century is not a topic that can be adequately addressed in nightly news soundbites or online articles intended to be relevant for 24 hours or less. Comprehending these complex issues requires insight from foreign policy specialists, diplomats, military officials, peace scholars, historians, and security experts—participants and observers on all sides of each conflict. This series provides the tools for understanding security issues in our uncertain, unstable world.
Covering global hot spots from Iran to Venezuela and subjects ranging from terrorism and cyber warfare to food security, books in the Praeger Security International series give readers access to carefully considered and highly informed viewpoints on the critical security issues that threaten to destabilize our world. With titles authored by diplomats, academic researchers, journalists, military leaders and combatants, legal experts, psychologists, and other knowledgeable specialists, these books offer in-depth analysis and international perspectives that are unavailable in the mass media. These titles represent an invaluable resource for students, researchers, and policymakers as well as for anyone who seeks a deeper understanding of the complex issues that affect our lives and future.Features
• Provides reliable, comprehensive information on all matters relating to security that is ideal for students, teachers, researchers, and professionals
• Offers insightful commentaries written by a diverse group of scholars and experts who provide interdisciplinary treatments of newsworthy events and important historical occurrences
