Lebanese nationalism is a nationalist ideology that emphasises Lebanons history , sovereignty and identity , in which it considers the Lebanese people as separate from the rest of its neighbours and strives to maintain Lebanon as an independent nation-state.
This ideology has been summoned many times throughout history and has been the main driver for movements and campaigns , in opposition to sectarian or foreign irredentist thoughts. Followed by numerous factions , Lebanese nationalism has been upheld in a multi-confessional and complex world, that is why, different sects have who support this idea ,believe in different founding myths.The modern civic strand precedes historical one .It recognises the country's part in the broader Arab world , but prioritises national unity over pan-arabism. On the other hand , the much older branch suggests descendance and cultural links to pre-Arab populations ,notably the Phoenicians. The later is not a mainstream view but is historically supported by Lebanese Christians.
History
The development of Lebanese nationalism is closely linked to the historical evolution of Mount Lebanon , particularly the relationship between the Druze and Maronite community. They played an important role in the formation of the modern state of Lebanon .During the Ottoman times, through a governing and social system known as the "Maronite-Druze dualism" in Mount Lebanon Mutasarrifate[1] , the earliest internationally recognised autonomous status was given after civil strife between sects. While it is the most known , the Mutasarrifate follows much earlier trends of distinction and varying degrees of autonomy, offering Lebanese nationalism actual basis for the proto-national consciousness it needed to formalise. Trends such as Fakhreddine's conquests , the Ma'an and Shihab dynasties, and the Double Qaimaqamate[citation needed] all contributed to the Lebanese identity.
During the 20th century, the country went through important changes. Acquiring its modern day borders from the French , Greater Lebanon was formed upon the base of the Lebanese , Mount Lebanon. During the Lebanese Civil War, Lebanese nationalism was associated with the Kataeb Party, Lebanese Forces, National Liberal Party and secularist movements like Guardians of the Cedars, National Bloc and the Lebanese Renewal Party, spearheaded by the renowned late Lebanese poet and philosopher Said Akl, who proposed a distinct Lebanese alphabet , contributing to ideas of a separate cultural Lebanese identity. The ideology was also present among the Shiite Muslims of the Amal movement and an ideology present in its armed wing, the Lebanese Resistance Regiments.[2] Currently, it is present among the multi-confessional Lebanese Resistance Brigades subordinate to Hezbollah.[3] As a result, Lebanese nationalists have never formed a bloc, being very different ideologically and having divergent opinions on which allies to choose, all adding up to confessionalism.
Some Lebanese nationalists consider Lebanese borders to be cut and, go even further to incorporates historical irredentist views that go beyond the Greater Lebanese borders, seeking to unify all the lands of ancient Phoenicia around present-day Lebanon.[4] That comes from the fact that present-day Lebanon, the Mediterranean coast of Syria, and northern Israel is the area that roughly correspond to ancient Phoenicia and so its adherents identify with the ancient Phoenician population of that region.[5] Therefore, the proposed Greater Lebanese country includes Lebanon, Mediterranean coast of Syria, and northern Israel.
12Deeb, Marius (2013). Syria, Iran, and Hezbollah: The Unholy Alliance and Its War on Lebanon. Hoover Press. ISBN9780817916664. the Maronites and the Druze, who founded Lebanon in the early eighteenth century.
Note: Forms of nationalism based primarily on ethnic groups are listed above. This does not imply that all nationalists with a given ethnicity subscribe to that form of ethnic nationalism.
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