JSPES, Vol. 35, No. 1 (Spring 2010)
pp. 45-78

The Political Consequences of Electoral Laws in Fragmented Societies: Lebanon’s 2009 Elections

Simon Haddad

American University of Beirut

This study will assess Lebanon’s 2009 parliamentary elections. Section one examines electoral alliances and electoral dynamics within the pre-election context. Section two will provide a thorough analysis of the outcome. Section three discusses the social makeup of the newly emerging legislature, and section four looks into the repercussions of these elections for Lebanon. The polls were expected to pave the way for a new phase characterized by democratic stability, cooperation and political advancement away from the country’s conflict-ridden politics and communal tensions that marked Lebanese political life since 2005.