...Lebanon can be linked to the conflict between the Ottoman Empire and European colonialism. One must understand this history of elitism and how it is intertwined with sectarianism because before religious affiliation became a problem, Lebanese society was structured around a strict hierarchical order. In order to illustrate Confessionalism in Lebanon, one must examine scholarly research conducted in the area of colonial influence and critiques on the Lebanese confessional system. Colonial influence and differing scholarly opinions on the confessional system are significant to discern an accurate conclusion as to whether it is truly democratic and beneficial to all people or a hindrance to democracy.
European colonialism in Lebanon can be traced back to 1860; it was during this time period that Britain began supporting the Druze and the French supporting the Maronites. Support for these two particular religious groups was based on the idea that; 1) Supporting these two groups would justify European encroachment on the territory and 2) A Christian state in this region of the world would be more beneficial to the Europeans then an Islamic state. The concentration of power into these specific groups did not go unnoticed by the cultural elites who saw it as an opportunity to increase their power. They went on to use their influence in the families controlling multi-religious and ethnic communities. The 1932 census is where the confessional system in Lebanon stems from. When this census was surveyed, the Maronites made up a larger portion of the population so this was how the government would be divided giving Maronites greater control of this Arab nation. By 1975, the Muslim's realized that their population now greatly outweighed their Christian counterparts and they were demanding more fair and accurate representation within their government. This sectarian rift...
