레바논의 내적 갈등 화해 방안에 관한 연구

A Study on the Reconciliation of the Lebanese Internal Conflict

The main purpose of this paper is to analyze the Lebanese conflict reconciliation processes since the end of the second civil war in 1990 and to find out ways in which to promote the processes better to achieve positive peace. Reconciliation is as important as the termination of physical violence because without true reconciliation, conflict can erupt at any time. As a result, reconciliation is considered an important topic in the field of conflict resolution. According to the general theory of reconciliation, the conflict reconciliation process begins with the formation of a truth committee to clarify what occurred during the period of the civil war and to determine the victims and perpetrators. Depending on the findings of the committee, justice should be served. The perpetrators are supposed to be punished, and the victims should be compensated. Subsequently, the perpetrators make apologies for their criminal acts in public, and the victims then offer them forgiveness. In accordance with these processes, the perpetrators and the victims can establish a new relationship to achieve peace. In Lebanon, however, this general process of reconciliation was totally ignored because the current political leaders were the perpetrators in the civil war. Being afraid of punishment, the Lebanese government, which was composed of these leaders, proclaimed a general amnesty for the all perpetrators and have induced a collective amnesia about the civil war. Due to the lack of true reconciliation, conflict in the Lebanese society is increasing every day. The main cause for the internal conflict in Lebanon is the political system of consociational democracy, which divides political power according to religious sects: the president for the Moronites, the prime minister for the Sunnis, and the speaker of the parliament for the Shias. This system began in 1943 when Lebanon achieved independence from France. This system, as Arend Lijphart predicted in the 1960s, had been outdated for Lebanon several decades ago, and the Taif Agreement was the perfect opportunity to adopt a true democratic system. The Lebanese political leaders are, however, clinging to power, and they have reintroduced the consociational system. As a result, the Lebanese government is not interested in true national reconciliation and also lacks the ability to achieve it. Therefore, Lebanese reconciliation should be approached with civil society groups and NGOs in order to achieve positive peace.