Main content

Mass protests in Lebanon

Are the country wide protests the beginning of a revolution in Lebanon?

This week millions of people were out on the streets of Lebanon demanding change. A lack of jobs, crumbling public services, rising living costs and rampant inequality had brought out people from all sections of the society. The proposed budget with more taxes, including one on WhatsApp, is seen as the straw that broke the camel’s back. Since the end of a fifteen year long civil war, Lebanon has relied on a unique set of arrangements to maintain peace and a balance of power among its various sects. But under the banner of 'everyone means everyone' the protesters are turning on the political class as a whole and uniting across sectarian divides. So is Lebanon in the midst of a revolution? Julian Worricker and guests discuss what this uprising means for Lebanon and the region.

Available now

53 minutes

Last on

Sat 26 Oct 2019 03:06GMT

Contributors

Lina Khatib - Head of the Middle East and North Africa Programme at Chatham House

Nizar Ghanem - Director of research at Triangle Policy Research Centre

Nada Sehnaoui - Beirut based artist and a political activist

Nassib Ghobril - Chief Economist at Byblos Bank

Also featuring

Sophia Farghal - businesswoman and protester

Picture

Demonstrators shout slogans during an anti-government protest in the southern city of Nabatyeh, Lebanon. Credit: REUTERS/Aziz Taher

Broadcasts

  • Fri 25 Oct 2019 08:06GMT
  • Fri 25 Oct 2019 23:06GMT
  • Sat 26 Oct 2019 02:06GMT
  • Sat 26 Oct 2019 03:06GMT

The Real Story Podcast

Subscribe via your favourite podcast app...

Podcast