The 2022 Lebanese Elections: Between Traditional and Alternative Politics

Rahaf Zaher

This article describes the political and livelihoods situation in Lebanon leading up to the parliamentary elections in May 2022. The article examines electoral campaigns and the use of social media and traditional media by politicians, residents, and expatriates to express their opinions and stands. From the analysis of electoral speeches, it appeared that major traditional politicians relied on emotionality and sectarian nerve-pulling to entice supporters to vote. Alternative parties appeared to tackle livelihoods matters relatively more and positioned themselves as opponents to the traditional establishment. Despite the visibility and accessibility obstacles that alternative parties faced, they were able to secure seats in the parliament, possibly due to the increased expatriate participation. An ethnographic account of election day and the tension between differently opinionated citizens is recounted.

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