Lebanon: State of Survival

While this gateway to the Middle East has managed to survive and heal its internal divisions, in recent years it has been hit by a succession of unprecedented crises that have caused the exodus of many Lebanese and the massive arrival of Syrian migrants—representing half of the indigenous population—driven by the war in their own country. To top it all off, the destructive confrontation between Israel and Hezbollah has devastated entire swathes of Lebanon.

Like the author of a thriller whose hero is an entire state condemned to constant struggle, Fouad Khoury-Helou tells this fascinating story with gusto. He also considers the various scenarios likely on the horizon and tries to come up with solutions that would enable the Land of the Cedars to overcome its problems.