Brief

BASIC Research Policy Briefing 5

The Politics of Social Assistance in Lebanon

Published on 5 February 2025

This brief examines the politics of social protection amid ongoing financial crisis in Lebanon. It finds that Lebanon’s political settlement remains characterised by sectarian-clientelism and fractured sub-state loyalties, and that a fractured formal social protection system exists alongside longstanding traditions of political party-led social assistance. It argues that Lebanon’s new National Social Protection Strategy provides a rare opportunity to foster a new social contract that is inclusive and rights-based.

Read the accompanying Working Paper: The Politics of Social Assistance in Lebanon: Social Protection, Sectarianism, and Lebanon’s Fragmented Social Contract.

Cite this publication

Proudfoot, P. and Zoughaib, S. (2025) ‘The Politics of Social Assistance in Lebanon’, BASIC Research Policy Briefing 5, Brighton: Institute of Development Studies, DOI: 10.19088/BASIC.2025.001

Authors

Philip Proudfoot

Research Fellow

Publication details

published by
Institute of Development Studies
doi
10.19088/BASIC.2025.001
language
English

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About this publication

Region
Lebanon

Related content

Working Paper

The Politics of Social Assistance in Lebanon: Social Protection, Sectarianism, and Lebanon’s Fragmented Social Contract

BASIC Research Working Paper 32

5 February 2025