The Middle East Crisis - Distinct Revolutions
Lebanon and Iraq are witnessing unprecedented popular protests and demonstrations due to economic despair and unparalleled corruption in the two countries. In Lebanon, “From Iraq to Beirut, one revolution that never dies” is a popular protest chant, while Lebanese flags fly in Iraq. These displays of solidarity between Lebanese and Iraqi protesters are a significant aspect of the revolutions and help build morale, as the people aim to topple the political elite. Sectarian power sharing is employed in both Lebanon and Iraq, where maintaining this system is prioritised over providing needed goods and services for the people.
Protesters across the two countries cite opposition to this sectarian political system as a uniting factor in their respective struggles. However, while a power sharing system is relatively new in Iraq, put in place after Saddam Hussein’s demise in 2003, strengthening hope that it can be removed, the system is far more entrenched in Lebanon, where a sectarian form of government has been constitutionally mandated since Lebanon’s independence. Additionally, Lebanon and Iraq are considered among the most corrupt countries in the Middle East by Transparency International and Iraq is ranked 12th in the world. Unemployment and public debt are also pressing issues in both countries, with the rate in Lebanon over 150 percent of GDP. Significantly, 60 percent of the population in the Middle East is under 30, which has the potential to be a source of strength, but the economic, educational, and institutional infrastructures are unable to support this population, breeding anger.
A surprising impetus in sparking the protests in Lebanon was a proposed tax on Whatsapp calls, which exemplifies the gulf between the government and the young, tech-savvy population it is supposed to be serving. Moreover, people in Lebanon, struggling economically, increasingly rely on the ability to make free phone calls. Technology and social media have also served to widen the gap between the political order in Iraq and the young, particularly as this generation grew up amongst violence and corruption after the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003. Lebanese and Iraqi protesters are also sharing strategies. For example, parked cars are being used to block traffic on major streets and student protesters wear medical masks and goggles, occupying bridges and other key thoroughfares. Lebanese and Iraqi protesters remain unsatisfied by government promises of reform.
One important distinction between the protests in Lebanon and those in Iraq is the violence characterising the Iraqi protests compared to the relatively peaceful protests occurring across Lebanon. Since the protests in Iraq began on October 1st, over 300 people, primarily protesters, have been killed, while the movement in Lebanon has remained largely peaceful. Arguably, because violence has become ingrained into life in Iraq, when protesters filled the streets, live ammunition was used against them, which could lead to further organisation, as casualties grow.
In contrast, Lebanon’s protests have fostered a more positive atmosphere, as for the first time, the Lebanese are united by their nationality to successfully oppose the government, rather than divided by religion. The protests are a sign of hope for the Lebanese, as they have already forced Prime Minister Saad Hariri to resign and even Lebanese expats are returning home to join in the protests. For example, an important location of occupation in Lebanon is “the Ring”, Beirut’s main highway and a politically significant location, as it was used to divide Christian East Beirut and Muslim West Beirut during the Civil War. Today, the location symbolizes unity, as protesters gather there united by their shared needs for which they protest and their Lebanese identity. However, some sites of occupation in Iraq serve a dual purpose, such as the al-Tahrir Tunnel in Baghdad, which protesters use to take cover from security forces and treat the wounded. Similarly to the uprisings in 2011, social media has played an important role in mobilising protesters, providing modes of organisation, and spreading the message across different groups. Equally as important as fighting for better economies and less corruption for the protesters in Lebanon and Iraq is transcending religious and class divisions in doing so. Many speculate that these protests could even spawn a second, and hopefully more successful, Arab Spring.
