Why the rigidity? Understanding the Lebanese state’s policies towards Palestinian refugees: a social conflict theory perspective

Abstract

Palestinians represent one of the largest refugee populations, dispersed across the world to seek safety and protection. Lebanon diverges from other host countries in its policies applied towards the population. The notably rigid and discriminatory refugee governance policy developed and implemented by the Lebanese state is closely connected to the country’s complex socio-political dynamics. This thesis aims to uncover the key factors influencing these policies by employing a social conflict theory approach. Accordingly, this thesis argues that the policy preferences of the Lebanese state towards Palestinian refugees are deeply rooted in the material conditions of social power relations in the country. By employing process-tracing methodology, the results demonstrate that the historical struggles among the competing social forces in Lebanon significantly influence the state’s formulation of strategies and policies concerning Palestinians.