Annulling Sectarianism in Politics

“The annulment of political sectarianism is a national target that must be realized according to a gradual plan,”

Clause H of the preamble to the Lebanese Constitution.

Article 95 provides the mechanism for annulling political sectarianism. Its presence in the constitution stresses the fact that annulment of sectarianism has become a national requirement, a national goal, and is no longer just something called for by intellectuals, or a point on the agenda of a political party.

Belonging to any religion or sect in Lebanon does not conflict with national loyalty or a common national identity. On the contrary, religious diversity it is a source of richness that can be capitalized on to bring about a dynamism that seeks to constantly renew and improve our horizons. History has proven, especially during the war years, that exploiting sectarian feelings inflamed crises and paved the way for foreign intervention. Exploiting sectarian division helped increase some people’s insecurities and uncertainties about the future, and their future in Lebanon. These feelings of insecurity and alienation between Lebanese communities sometimes ushered in plans that did not serve the unity of Lebanon, its people, its land and its institutions. Capitalizing on sectarianism resulted in the ugly face of Lebanon’s democratic system and was an obstacle to the practice of democracy.

It is for these reasons, as much as for co-existence being a precious and basic principle to which all advocates of Lebanese national unity subscribe, that we must rid Lebanese politics of sectarian distrust. Exploiting sectarian division creates a dangerous gap of trust. It is this that has given us the bitter experience of war. It is this gap that we have to bridge once and for all. If not, then what was all the suffering worth, what was the point, the value, of all of those experiences?

In order to annul political sectarianism we should begin a serious, mature and sustained dialogue at a national level, airing the real issues and raising awareness in preparation for solving the problem. Raising the issue every now and then to serve partisan political interests does not solve the problem of sectarianism. Such an approach creates opposition, polarization and rejection and further complicates the realization of the goal. The Constitution of the Republic of Lebanon states, in its preamble, that the annulment of political sectarianism is a national goal. Achieving this goal requires not only the consensus of the Lebanese, but also their effective contribution to the annulment process.

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