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4.3 Framing of Syria's Role in the Intra This work is protected by copyright and other intellectual property rights and duplication or sale of all or part is not permitted, except that material may be duplicated by you for research, private study, criticism/review or educational purposes. Electronic or print copies are for your own personal, non- commercial use and shall not be passed to any other individual. No quotation may be published without proper acknowledgement. For any other use, or to quote extensively from the work, permission must be obtained from the copyright holder/s. Intra-Sunni contestations in contemporary Lebanon: A framing-theory approach to the analysis of political divides within Lebanon’s Sunni demographic (2005-2016) By Moaz El Sayed PhD in Politics and International Relations October, 2019 Keele University Abstract The aim of this research is to examine how the Lebanese Sunni political actors frame intra-Sunni political division in Lebanon. The research draws on Max Weber’s “interpretivist” approach of understanding (Verstehen), which denotes that reality is socially constructed. The research does not offer a causal explanation of the Sunni politics. Rather, it seeks to interpret the subjective understandings and socially constructed ideas articulated by the Lebanese political actors on the political contestations of Sunnis. The operationalisation of framing theory in this research aided an understanding of how intra-Sunni political divides are constructed, manifested and narrated by the Lebanese political actors. The research used a single case study research design with a qualitative approach. The data were collected from Lebanon using semi-structured interviews and analysis of documents. A purposive sampling was employed to select twenty-three respondents including party and religious leaders, rank-and-file members, ministers and MPs. The findings of this research suggest the interconnectivity between external and internal factors in shaping the framing construction of Sunnis. Externally, the rivalry between Saudi Arabia on the one hand and Syria and Iran on the other hand is essential for shaping Sunni narratives on intra-Sunni contestations. Regional players namely (Iran, Syria and Saudi Arabia) have been able to break through Sunnis either through financial or political support or through propagation of slogans such as resisting Israel and defending Palestine. Internally, the research reveals that Sunnis differ in their frames of identity politics, Lebanon’s confessional politics, Islamisation i of Lebanon, the stance on Hezbollah and the leadership of Sunnis. This research is the first theoretical-based study involving framing theory on intra-Sunni political contestations in Lebanon. The thesis concludes with some recommendations that collective national efforts are needed to enact laws that strengthen state institutions, prevent foreign funding and abolish confessionalism in order to reduce political tensions. ii Table of Contents Abstract ........................................................................................................................................ i List of Figures and Tables ........................................................................................................... vii List of Abbreviations and Acronyms ........................................................................................... viii Acknowledgment ........................................................................................................................ ix Dedication .................................................................................................................................. xi Chapter One ................................................................................................................................ 1 Introducing Sunni Politics in Lebanon ........................................................................................... 1 1.0 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 1 1.1 Background and Rationale of this Research ....................................................................... 1 1.2 Research Question .............................................................................................................. 5 1.3 The Overarching Argument of this Research ...................................................................... 6 1.4 Justification/Contribution to Knowledge ............................................................................ 9 1.5 Literature Review .............................................................................................................. 10 1.5.1 Contextual Definition of Sunni Muslims in Lebanon .................................................. 10 1.5.2 Mapping out Sunni Groupings and Organisations in Lebanon .................................. 11 1.5.3 Confessionalism in Lebanon ....................................................................................... 29 1.5.4 The Taif Accord ........................................................................................................... 31 1.6 Structure of this Thesis...................................................................................................... 35 Chapter Two .............................................................................................................................. 38 Research Method and Methodology: .......................................................................................... 38 An Interpretivist Approach to the Analysis of Intra-Sunni Political Division in Lebanon ................ 38 2.0 Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 38 2.1 Research Method and Research Design ........................................................................... 38 2.2 Research Approach ........................................................................................................... 39 2.3 Research Sampling and Selection Criteria......................................................................... 43 2.4 Data Collection Method .................................................................................................... 45 2.4.1 The Use of Interview Materials .................................................................................. 45 2.4.2 Pitfalls of Using Interview Materials ......................................................................... 48 2.4.3 Analysis of Documents ............................................................................................... 49 2.5 Instrumentation and Illustration of the Interview Guide ................................................. 49 2.6 Establishing a Link to and Discussion of Semi-Structured Interview Questions ............... 50 iii 2.7 Data Analysis and Interpretation ...................................................................................... 50 2.8 Ethical Considerations ....................................................................................................... 55 2.9 Framing Theory: Assumptions, Applicability and Method ................................................ 56 2.9.1 The Concept of Framing Theory ................................................................................. 56 2.9.2 Functions of Framing Theory ..................................................................................... 58 2.9.3 Limitations of Framing Theory ................................................................................... 60 2.9.4 Framing Processes ...................................................................................................... 63 2.9.5 Collective Action Frames ............................................................................................ 66 2.9.6 Political Opportunity in the Context of Framing Theory ............................................ 68 2.10 Conclusion ....................................................................................................................... 69 Chapter Three ............................................................................................................................ 70 Intra-Sunni Contestations: ......................................................................................................... 70 Understanding and Framing of Intra-Sunni political Division in Lebanon at the Domestic Level .... 70 3.0 Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 70 3.1 Identity Politics .................................................................................................................. 71 3.1.1 National Identity Mantra among the Lebanese Sunnis ............................................. 75 3.1.2 Examining the Perceptual Stance of the Sunni Community on Issues of National Identity ................................................................................................................................ 78 3.1.3 The Ideological Stance of Religious-Based Sunni Groupings in Lebanon ................... 80 3.1.4 The Duality of Affiliation among Sunni Groups .......................................................... 81 3.1.5 The Desire to Establish an Islamic Order in Lebanon ................................................. 82 3.1.6 The Desire to Implement the Islamic Principles in Lebanon ...................................... 85 3.1.7
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