Podrobný výpis o publikaci

On November 18, 2024, the Prague Centre for Middle East Relations (PCMR) of CEVRO hosted a closed roundtable discussion entitled “Lebanon’s Fateful Hour: Prolonged Conflict, Ongoing Economic Crisis and Stalled Leadership” with Sami Zoughaib from The Policy Initiative in Beirut. The roundtable was moderated by Jan Daniel, senior researcher and the Head of the Centre for the Study of Global Regions as well as coordinator of its Middle East and Africa Politics Unit at the Institute for International Relations (IIR). The event was conducted under the Chatham House Rules. The event included a discussion on Lebanon’s current political, economic, and security situation. The discussion focused in particular on the current ongoing war between Hezbollah and the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) not only in the south of Lebanon, the political stalemate manifested in the considerable fragmentation of the country’s political elite forces, and the continued rule of the transitional government. Further, the discussion revolved around the country’s current economic situation. Finally, the discussion focused on the question of Lebanon’s regional position in the continuing escalation of tensions between Israel and Iran. Background Lebanon is facing an exceptionally precarious moment as it grapples with multiple, intertwined crises that threaten its very stability. In the south, Israeli military operations have intensified, escalating tensions and spotlighting the strategic implications for Hezbollah’s role and influence in the region, shifting regional dynamics and weakening the reach and resilience of Tehran’s proxies. This security crisis unfolds against a backdrop of economic freefall, with Lebanon mired in hyperinflation, rapid currency devaluation, and widespread poverty—conditions that erode societal stability and worsen the daily hardships of the Lebanese people. Politically, Lebanon remains paralyzed. The government is at a standstill, and a protracted deadlock has left the country without a president, creating a power vacuum that stymies essential governance and reform efforts. With no resolution to these crises in sight, Lebanon teeters on the brink, of facing profound security, economic, and political challenges that demand urgent attention yet remain unresolved. Speaker’s Bio Sami Zoughaib is an Economist and the Research Manager at The Policy Initiative (https://www.thepolicyinitiative.org/), a Beirut-based think-tank. His research focuses on Lebanon’s political economy, governance structures, macroeconomics, and local economic development. Zoughaib earned his Master’s in Public Policy from the University of Reading and a Bachelor’s in Economics from the American University of Beirut.