The Influence of Clientelism on the Lebanese Civil Society

The article looks at civil society as an entity that often reflects a country's contextual realities. More specifically, it focuses on socio-political structures, showing how weak institutions, consociational principles, as well as formal and informal elite dynamics in Lebanon have created a perfect atmosphere for sectarian leaders to expand their clientelistic networks into civil society. By creating their own service-providing sectarian organizations; indirectly pushing civic organizations to become players in the system; and infiltrating interest groups that may pose a threat, sectarian leaders have been able to neutralize the impact of civil society in the country.