Understanding why Lebanese still follow political parties; should we move forward, and if so, how?
Opinion Analysis by Albert Geokgeuzian, Staff Writer
September 17th, 2020
Lebanon is currently going through multiple catastrophes. It’s experiencing a financial collapse the likes of which has rarely been seen in the MENA region; It recently experienced one of the largest explosions in history, the August 4th explosion that decimated the Beirut Port and left hundreds dead and over 300,000 homeless and obviously Lebanon is not immune to the pandemic. In the wake of these devestations, some have resorted to revolution, again, in an attempt to overthrow a government that couldn’t stop these atrocities from happening.
However, despite the public outcry the country has seen, most party supporters have remained loyal to their own party. As such, I wanted to understand their mindset and try to figure out why these parties retain such a strong following at a time where others perhaps are puzzled as to why people could still follow the political elite.
It is easy for those who are against all parties to dismiss “others” referring to them as being sheep, of not being able to see what’s “clearly” in front of them, however, that is a detrimental mindset to have if we want to rebuild our nation and move forward.
The only way to rebuild a stable country is together, and some may dismiss this notion as being unrealistic, or that those with different opinions than theirs don’t deserve that level of compassion. This idea doesn’t plague just one school of thought, it plagues them all.
The progress that is necessary for our country can only be done together, we need to shift our focus from what our differences are and look at what could bring us together. We need to understand the “other”. We need to be able to compromise.
There is no such thing as a “corruption free nation”, corruption isn’t some kind of petty crime but rather a necessary tool to power arguably. Corruption doesn’t just reference the elite stealing money to fill their own pockets. But rather in democracies, corruption often has a different name, taxes and benefits. While it is undeniable that there are instances of the elite stealing to fill their pockets, that isn’t the general case in most countries, including Lebanon.
For example in countries where farmers' votes don’t swing elections, don’t have farming subsidies. When a community has no impact on an election, it is almost impossible for them to get tax breaks and as such that community suffers. Lebanon’s political elite know this. That is how Hezbollah was able to gain the support that it has, they came in and gave a community which had never received recognition, dignity, a chance to be a difference maker and as such receive protection and benefits.
Every party deploys this kind of strategic logic of politics, other parties may give out scholarships, or jobs, offer social security and it works because we are desperate, desperate for anything to keep us afloat. Eventually, potentially years after receiving support from a particular party, if not immediately, that community becomes a supporter of said party and as such it becomes even harder for any one individual to break away from the “normal” that has been established in that community.
I have talked with several Lebanese local party supporters and each and every one of them have said that they are connected to their party because of the help they have received, whether monetary support or protection; they also believe the good their party does outweighs the bad. Which is predictable, if a party supports a community then of course that party will build up a goodwill within that community
Even while taking all of this into account it is easy for disagreements between two opposing mindsets to descend into a shouting match in Lebanon, if not worse. That is why it is on us, all of us, to start focusing on what brings us together, on our common ground so that we can help one another and ultimately help this country progress.
You may not want to, you may be thinking that the “other” doesn’t deserve a discussion, doesn’t deserve to be treated with compassion, and you may have a point but never forget “the people who need compassion the most are those who deserve it the least, from the people they least deserve it from”. The easiest way to change someone’s mind is by focusing on what brings you together, the hardest way is by focusing on your differences.
As people, we often double down on our opinions if we feel we are under attack, as such, no matter what mindset you have, if your goal is to improve this country then you have to focus on the common ground you may have with the “other” because we can only move forward together.
A country is built on compromises, never forget that.