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Confessionalism and Electoral Reform in Lebanon

July 19, 2012  • Arda Arsenian Ekmekji, Ph.D.

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This paper presents three possible scenarios for the forthcoming 2013 legislative elections – the “status quo”, the Boutros Commission Draft, and the Charbel Proportional Proposal – and argues for an effective and democratic electoral system that addresses the inequalities and traps for corruption present in Lebanon today. Taking into account Lebanon’s tenuous multi-confessional identity, standardization of voting practices, electoral zoning and expatriate voter inclusion, Ekmekji presents a thorough and recommendation-based analysis of the options available and the best road forward to reform in Lebanon.