Reimaging a Decolonial and Post-Sectarian Lebanon: A Reflection on the October 17 Uprising

Over the past two centuries, Lebanon experienced a modern/colonial and sectarian epistemic transformation that molded modern Lebanese subjectivity, its institutions, and constrained its social change efforts within these frameworks in the process. This chapter begins with a brief decoloniality analysis and reflection on Lebanon’s historical context, illustrating how modernity/coloniality and sectarianism have influenced the development of present-day Lebanon and its institutions, as well as Lebanon’s liberal and sectarian subjectivity. Moreover, the chapter explores the role of the international aid and development (IAD) model and geopolitics in assisting the neoliberalization of Lebanon, drawing insights from the author’s work with non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Subsequently, the chapter transitions to discuss the ‘October 17 Uprising’ (2019), highlighting connections to the previous ‘Downfall of the Sectarian System’ (2011) and ‘#YouStink’ (2015) demonstrations, and highlighting a long-term non-affiliated and secular social transformation movement. The chapter ends with final reflections on the rise of alternative discourses and the reimagining of a decolonial and post-sectarian Lebanon, highlighting the challenges and possible future application.