Customer Reviews

The Breakdown of the State in Lebanon, 1967-1976

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This book by Professor Farid Khazen is a good read and is well-researched. However, it is an attempt to articulate in academic mantle the Right Wing view in the Lebanon War that the Palestinians were largely responsible for the decay of the Lebanese state, supported by radical Arab states and the Soviet Union. Prof Khazen moves then to a meticulous refutation of Lefitst views of the war, denying that sectarian divisions led to the war or that there were legitimate social and economic grievances among the Lebanese (as the leftists were syaing). Despite the length of Prof Khazen's book, I don't find it satisfying as an account of what happened in Lebanon in the period 1967-1976, nor does it cover adequatley the destructive role played by the Lebanese elites in these tragic years.

A good reference book -- but only if you really need the details, otherwise this is deffinitely a biased account of the war. The problem is not in what Mr. El Khazen says, but in what he leaves out. If this is your first book about the Lebanese war, then you are much better off with any of Kamal Salibi's books on Lebanon.

This is a far more insightful and comprehensive work than several books on Lebanon I have read in recent years. Although I take issue with some of the author's arguments, the book is a solid academic work not only on the war but also on Lebanese society and politics. It is also based on new data and research material. The book is highly recommended for specialists on Lebanese and Arab politics.

This well researched, scholarly book on Lebanese politics and society is a welcome contribution to the study of conflict in the Middle East. The subject matter Farid el Khazen deals with is no doubt complex and controversial. But the author presents his arguments in a balanced and convincing way. His novel approach - examining Lebanon in crisis situations in broader regional perspective - is original and lucid. For anyone seeking to know the internal and external causes of the war in Lebanon, this is the book to read.

This well researched, scholarly book on Lebanese politics and society is a welcome contribution to the study of conflict in the Middle East. The subject matter Farid el Khazen deals with is no doubt complex and controversial. But the author presents his arguments in a balanced and convincing way. His novel approach - examining Lebanon in crisis situations in broader regional perspective - is original and lucid. For anyone seeking to know the internal and external causes of the war in Lebanon, this is the book to read.

This is a superb book in terms of addressing the events of the war. The style begins by being almost thesis-like, in which he addresses notions of state, and then becomes a more journalistic type account of events that triggered the war in Lebanon.

For the reviewer who says that denying the domestic roots of the civil war, I highly doubt that they read the book- because the book does none of that!

Highly instructive, hightly recommended.

This well researched, scholarly book on Lebanese politics and society is a welcome contribution to the study of conflict in the Middle East. The subject matter Farid el Khazen deals with is no doubt complex and controversial. But the author presents his arguments in a balanced and convincing way. His novel approach - examining Lebanon in crisis situations in broader regional perspective - is original and lucid. For anyone seeking to know the internal and external causes of the war in Lebanon, this is the book to read.

Outstanding work! At long last someone comes to the fore to change the widely held perception that Lebanon's wars were home grown. El-Khazen's methodically shatters that image by proving that "civil war" is a misnomer and that Lebanon fell under a crushing weight of an authoritarian M.Eastern neighbourhood. I highly recommended it specially for journalists covering the M.East.

For any serious researcher, don't look further, this is the book for you. It is a very good piece of work, obviously well researched and documented. And above all, it is the only objective piece of work I read on the history of Lebanon. El Khazen obviously knows what he is talking about, does not throw biased statements, does not omit incidents, and is supporting all of his arguments.
All in all, an excellent piece of work. I admire the author's knowledge, honesty and courage and highly recommend the book.

This is a book written with hate for everything Arab and Muslim. To say that the lebanese civil war has no domestic roots insults the hundreds of thousands of dead, injured, or maimed Lebanese. let's face it, Lebanon's archaic sectarian political system is no recipe for any country. It is high time that we come to our senses that narrowly based identifications that have tormented lebanon for so long must lay to rest. A deeply disappointed reader