IRHAL: Analyzing Youth Participation in Lebanon Beyond Confessionalism Paradigma

On April 28th 2021, UNIMED virtually hosted the Kick-off meeting of IRHAL to analyze the Lebanese protests and the role of youth beyond the confessionalism paradigm.

The IRHAL project, funded by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, aimed to examine the involvement of the youth community, particularly students, in the protest movements that occurred in Lebanon in 2019. It also sought to analyze the potential impact on the progress of these protests.

The study delved into questions such as the role played by young people and students, the possibility of creating a new inter- and supra-confessional leadership, the economic conditions that drove young individuals to participate in such protests, and the reaction of the ancien regime both at that time and in the present. It explored why some young people chose to support the government and various parties, defending the confessional scheme, while others opted to stay and participate in the protests.

The research, conducted in collaboration with three Lebanese universities (Lebanese University, Lebanese International University, USEK – Holy Spirit University of Kaslik), associated with the UNIMED network and under the scientific supervision of the Italian University of Cagliari, aimed to contribute to understanding the frustrations and aspirations of Lebanese youth. It aimed to provide an unprecedented profile regarding the political dynamics of this country, which holds a central position in the actions of Italian foreign policy.

On June 22-23, 2022, UNIMED convened its annual General Assembly at the University of Jordan in Amman.

The concluding session of the UNIMED General Assembly was devoted to the presentation of UNIMED papers, representing research initiatives leading to the publication of significant papers. The session commenced with the opening remarks by the Ambassador of Italy in Jordan, Luciano Pezzotti, expressing gratitude to the hosting institution. Anwar Katarani from the Lebanese International University then took the stage, presenting two papers derived from research processes guided by UNIMED and sponsored by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The first publication, titled "Lebanon: between aspiration for changes and the ancient regime," focused on the IRHAL project and was released in April 2022. The second publication addressed the MUSALIHA initiative on the Syrian Higher Education System and its role in the process of peacebuilding.