This book examines the unfolding of the Syrian refugee crisis in relation to the spillover of the Syrian civil war in Lebanon and against the background of Lebanon-Syria relations and Lebanon's socio-political, cultural, legal, and economic conditions. It surveys Lebanon's response plans to the refugee crisis as part of the development of the international response plans to address the protection and needs of the Syrian refugees and Palestinian refugees from Syria, as well as the impacted host communities and institutions. At the same time, this book emphasizes the dramatic shift in popular and institutional attitudes towards the refugees as a response to and as a growth of the sheer magnitude of the refugee crisis, which made Lebanon the only country in modern history with the highest per capita concentration of refugees in the world. By examining these attitudes against the background of achievements and failures of the response plans, the impact of the crisis on state institutions on the local and national levels, and the collective consciousness of a nation barely surviving the scars of its civil war, this book not only underscores the deepening tragedy of Syrian and Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, but also the consequential tragedy of many Lebanese, who have been forced into poverty and whose livelihoods have been affected by insecurity and the almost complete collapse of social services. As a result, the tragedy of the Syrian refugee crisis has become an international crisis affecting vulnerable persons across nationalities, and, unless it is addressed diplomatically and its response plans sufficiently funded, the tragedy will only deepen across continents.

About the Author
Robert G. Rabil is professor of political science at Florida Atlantic University.

Reviews
[Rabil's] well-researched book considers the long-term implications for Lebanon of close to two million Syrian and Palestinian refugees who constitute about one-third of the country's population and who jeopardize its survival as a state.The Syrian Refugee Crisis in Lebanon provides excellent statistics about the pace of Syrian refugee arrival in Lebanon, their geographical distribution, and living conditions. * Middle East Quarterly *
Dr. Robert G. Rabil has succeeded in using simple language to describe and explain a very complex phenomenon. He captures the essence of the current Syrian and Palestinian refugee crisis in Lebanon, and presents a lucid understanding of the human misery and political repercussion. His analysis and conclusions may be used effectively for better decision making, and if not, for the cleaner records of history. -- Chahine A. Ghais, Notre Dame University, Lebanon
Roughly one in four persons in Lebanon today is a Syrian refugee, giving the country the highest proportion of refugees in the world. Professor Rabil takes careful stock of what this means for Lebanon, the refugees it hosts, the region, and the international community. He does so with a rare ability to combine excellent scholarly analysis, personal anecdotes from his fieldwork in Lebanon, and clear, accessible language. Anyone wishing to better understand Lebanon or the complex ways in which the Syrian civil war impacts people and neighboring states will very much appreciate Professor Rabil's work. -- David Romano, Missouri State University
The refugee crisis in the Middle East has become part of the mythos of the US presidential campaign, the British exit from the EU, and at the core of exploding conflicts all over the West and the Middle East. Professor Robert Rabil has, in this exceptionally important and seminal work, given the refugee situation a face and a voice. This book should be required reading for presidential candidates to prime ministers and all the talking heads commenting on the refugee situation without any understanding of its reality on CNN, MSNBC, the BBC and other media. Professor Rabil has captured the tortured physical and legal existence of the refugees from Syria and Iraq in Lebanon and their impact on the Lebanese economy, political structure, and society. In short, this book is a most critical read for anyone trying to get a grasp of the refugee crisis confronting us today. -- Samuel M. Edelman, Academic Council for Israel; University of Miami; CSUC, Emeritus



Book Information
ISBN 9781498535144
Author Robert G. Rabil
Format Paperback
Page Count 150
Imprint Lexington Books
Publisher Lexington Books
Weight(grams) 236g
Dimensions(mm) 222mm * 150mm * 12mm