Lebanon's First Postwar Parliamentary Election: An Imposed Choice

By Farid el Khazen

Prospects for Lebanon, Number 8
ISBN: 1 870552 74 1 Price: £8

An in-depth analysis of the electoral process, the conduct of the 1992 elections and the results, and their political and communal repercussions. The study is enriched by numerous tables and figures illustrating the regional and historical aspects of the elections.

Table of Contents

Part One
Pre-and Post-Ta'if Politics: what has changed?
Reform as Political Bargaining Before and After Ta'if
Prior to Election Day
The Making of the Electoral Law
Electoral Constituencies: Last Minute Bargains
The Political and Sectarian Implications of Uneven Multi-Member Constituencies
The 1992 Electoral Law: who elects whom?
The Timing of the Elections: an enigma!

Part Two
The Electoral Process and the New Parliament
Composing the Electoral Lists: choosing 'winners'
Limited Competitiveness and Unopposed Candidates
Voter Participation: the lowest in parliamentary elections
The Parliamentary Elite
Transformation of the Parliamentary Elite
The Average Age of the Deputies
Occupational Backgrounds of the Deputies
Level of Education
Party Affiliation
Electoral Issues
Incentives for Voters and Candidates
Change in the 1992 Elections: the role of the aqtab and their 'electoral machine'

Part Three
Elections With Imposed Choice
State Versus Society and the Packaging of Deadlocks
Non-competitive Elections to the Benefit of Another State