The Economist reads

An introduction to Lebanon, perhaps the next front in a wider war

Four books and a film on a pivotal Middle Eastern country

A cable car with the Lebanese flag on the side is seen going up and down on the line connecting seaside road to the hill top in Jounieh, Lebanon.
Photograph: Getty Images

LEBANESE BOAST that theirs is a country where you can ski in the mountains and swim in the ocean on the same day. Beirut, Lebanon’s capital, was once so urbane that it was known as the Paris of the Middle East. Lebanese have in common an irreverent sense of humour. They love their country for these and other reasons but they have often not loved each other. Lebanon’s various religious sects, 18 of which are officially recognised, have long fought one another. Outside powers, including Israel, Syria, Iran and America, have exacerbated their conflicts. Lebanon’s sect-based power-sharing system has led to corruption and political paralysis. Governments based on it have mismanaged the economy. GDP is less than half what it was in 2019. In 2023 the central bank devalued the Lebanese pound by 90% against the dollar. Inflation exceeded 200% that year. Many Lebanese have left in recent years, joining an already-vast diaspora. About 5.5m people, including hundreds of thousands of Syrian and Palestinian refugees, remain in a country that is being dragged once again into the seemingly endless war between Israel and its neighbours. That would escalate a regional crisis that Western powers are desperate to contain. We recommend four books and a film on a fascinating and pivotal country.

From the September 28th 2024 edition

Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents

Explore the edition

Discover more

A man holds an Icom walkie talkie device after he removed the battery during the funeral of persons killed when hundreds of paging devices exploded in a deadly wave across Lebanon the previous day, in Beirut's southern suburbs.

Books that probe the secrets of the Mossad 

Seven books on Israeli intelligence agencies, which are spearheading the offensive against Hizbullah in Lebanon

Young Lebanese women take a 'selfie' picture in front of a newly painted portrait of the late Egyptian writer and feminist Nawal el-Saadawi on a wall in the capital Beirut's downtown district.

What to read about modern feminism

An introduction to a large, evolving and controversial subject


A rally to support former President Donald Trump in his reelection bid in Rome, Georgia, USA. A banner reads 'Jesus is my savior. Trump is my president'.

How Christianity shapes politics in America

Four books and a podcast explain a complicated relationship


What to read about the British economy

Britain used to be the world’s richest country. These six books explain how it came to be, and why it is no longer

Six novels about India, perhaps the world’s most interesting place

Works of fiction about a country whose global clout, already large, is growing

Six novels you can read in a day

Reluctant to start on a big masterpiece? Try these small gems instead