Conflict on Mount Lebanon: Collective Memory and the War of the Mountain
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
CONFLICT ON MOUNT LEBANON: COLLECTIVE MEMORY AND THE WAR OF THE MOUNTAIN A Dissertation submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences of Georgetown University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in History By Makram G Rabah, M.A. Washington, D.C. December 12, 2016 Copyright 2016 by Makram G Rabah All Rights Reserved ii CONFLICT ON MOUNT LEBANON COLLECTIVE MEMORY AND THE WAR OF THE MOUNTAIN Makram G Rabah, M.A. Thesis Advisor: Osama Abi-Mershed, Ph.D. ABSTRACT The Druze and Maronites, the founding communities of modern Lebanon, have clashed on more than one occasion over the past two centuries earning them the reputation of being primordial enemies. This study is an attempt to gauge the impact that collective memory had on determining the course and the nature of the conflict between these communities in Mount Lebanon in what came to be called the War of the Mountain in 1982. This dissertation will attempt to reconstruct, perhaps for the first time, the events of the 1982 war through the framework of collective remembrance. In doing so, the thesis hopes to achieve better understanding of the conflict as well as the consequences it had on the two communities and beyond, most importantly the post-war reconciliation process; which maybe applicable to other communal conflicts in the region. This dissertation extensively utilizes oral history, in some of its parts, to explore how collective memory has shaped the conflict between the two communities, by interviewing a number of informants from both (inside and outside) the Druze and Maronite communities who have been involved or were witnesses to the conflict. These informants clearly reveal how their respective communities recall previous encounters; hence part of the study will deal with the question of oral history usages in historical research and the challenges and advantages that this tool will bring to Lebanese history and beyond. I will look into the history of both communities; how they have evolved and interacted with each other in Mount Lebanon as early as the 18th century onwards with a view to discover a recurrent pattern in their history. A good understanding of each community’s perception of themselves and each other would shed more light on the background of the conflict in 1982. Therefore it would also be relevant to explore earlier conflicts between these communities primarily the 1840-45, 1860 and the 1958 conflicts which still echo very clearly in their collective memories, rhetoric and literary productions. The writing of a narrative of the War of the Mountain and the events which lead up to them has never been attempted thus far at least within the scholarly circles. Telling the story, or perhaps stories, of the many men and women who partook in these events or simply suffered as a consequence is a valuable contribution to the field of Lebanese historical scholarship; especially when this can help expose the intrinsic motives which lead to this conflict, as well as assist in preventing similar future conflicts from arising iii To the Memory of my Mou`allam Kamal Salibi (1929-2011) and to Abdul Rahim Abu Husayn iv Note on Transliteration and Style For Arabic-language transcription, I have relied on the style guide of the International Journal of Middle East Studies (IJMES). The names of places and people will therefore lack diacritical marks except hamza and cayn. For citation purposes, I have followed the Chicago Manual of Style 16th edition. In many cases, I have deliberately deviated from the IJMES transliteration system and followed the names as used by their owners, such as Joumblatt instead of Junblatt, while I have utilized the common usage assigned by the Lebanese government to place names ( town. cities and villages). v Acknowledgments Journeys, at least the ones worthwhile, are seldom ones which are taken alone. My quest at Georgetown in this respect is no different, as many have shared the long, arduous and hopefully rewarding path with me. First and foremost, my late Mou`allam Kamal Salibi who we lost in September of 2011 was with me every step of the way, even after he departed. Each time I sat down to write or edit, his voice would accompany me criticizing, suggesting or praising me, as he has done so while I sat on his dining room table writing my Master’s thesis. Kamal Salibi, for me as he was for many, was not merely a teacher but also an inspiration as well as a model of how one should always question many of the essential truth we take for granted. The many hours I have spent in his home and on his balcony, I hope, have made me a better person as well as put me on the path towards more intellectual discovery. Throughout my brief career I have attained a number of titles as well as degrees but perhaps the one I cherish most is the one given to me by Salibi, as he used to refer to me as his grand students, having studied under his star pupil my mentor and friend, Abdul Rahim Abu-Husayn. From the first day I met Prof. Abu Husayn at the door of College Hall, he has granted me all the privileges of a son. His many fatherly reprimands throughout the years were a constant reminder to never allow my activist lifestyle to interfere in my academic progress. Perhaps and more importantly, Prof Abu Husayn, as the primary authority on Ottoman Lebanon has provided the field with many of the building blocks which shape my current study as well as helped develop the revisionist school of Lebanese history, which I am proud to belong to. My gratitude also goes out to my thesis adviser and Georgetown mentor Prof Osama Abi Mershid, who helped and nurtured me throughout my years on the hilltop. Since my first visit to his office in the first week of school, Prof. Abi Mershid’s door has always been open to me despite his busy schedule and his many responsibilities. His course suggestions and recommendations outside my field of study has enriched my knowledge and opened up many comparative fields which I would not have ventured into on my own. Special thanks to Prof. Yvonne Haddad who so kindly accepted to serve on my thesis committee and whose comments and feedback have significantly enriched my study. Eleven years ago, I was offered to work as a research assistant for an American professor from Boston writing a book about the history of AUB, little did I know that my encounter with Betty Anderson would lead to years of friendship. By accepting to be one of my readers, Prof Anderson gave me spot-on comments and edits as well as pointed out the flaws and the strength of my thesis as well as suggested possible ways to develop and improve my work. To this I will always be grateful. I would also like to thank HE PM Saad al-Hariri, a fellow Hoya, who upon the good offices of a dear friend Ms. Elena Anouti offered me a full scholarship from the Hariri Foundation-USA which made it possible for pursue my PhD. I would also like to thank Mr. Rafic Bizri, the director vi of the Hariri Foundation and Dr. David Thompson, my adviser, for their care and guidance. Thank you Elena. My utmost gratitude goes to the people which so kindly accepted to be interviewed for this study. The countless hours I have spent, interviewing them went beyond merely sharing copious amount of beverages and food, to listening to their most intimate tales. Stories of death, murder, pride, and remorse; stories of a lost youth and childhood. By allowing me into their memories these brave individuals in more than one way shaped my understanding and analysis of the conflict from both sides involved. While I do acknowledge, all of the interviewees’ contributions, I would like to specifically thank Ghanem Tarabay, a brave soul whose dedication to his cause and his people never seizes to amaze me. I would also like to thank MP Walid Joumblatt, President of the Progressive Socialist Party- Lebanon, who gave me unrestricted access to the PSP Oral History Project which proved extremely valuable for my work. I would also like to thank the Director of Dar al-Takadoumi Mr. Mahmoud Safi as well as his staff for facilitating my research as well as supplying me with all items relevant for this study. I cannot amply thank my parents, Ghassan and Nabila and brother Rami for the never- ending care and support they have lent me throughout the many challenges I have encountered. My father, retired Judge and Law Professor Ghassan Rabah, a man of principal and Justice, has always stood as my pillar and a constant reminder that ethics and values do still exist in a world which is governed by might rather than right. To my mother Nabila whose large heart and worrisome nature is the paradigm of motherly love. To my brother Rami who still hopes one day to sell off my books to make more room in our shared bedroom. Hopefully when this thesis becomes a book you will have to read it. Many of those of know me are aware of my hard nature, the stress and pressure of life and all that comes with it were made easier by the love and care of my partner, Rasha. Her love and eyes have always kept watch over me at the hardest of times. For this I pledge my love and life.