Lebanon’s political and economic crisis is deeply rooted in decades of entrenched corruption and sectarian patronage. From the extortion of citizens by bureaucrats to the embezzlement of public funds, corruption has become systemic—undermining state legitimacy and reducing public institutions to tools for private gain. With the country burdened by over $100 billion in debt and teetering on collapse, reform is more urgent than ever.
This analysis calls for a three-pronged approach: First, political accountability through a new electoral law that breaks sectarian strongholds and enables broader citizen participation. Second, legal and administrative reforms to strengthen anti-corruption mechanisms, including the activation of Lebanon’s National Anti-Corruption Commission and judiciary reforms. Third, a transformation in civic culture, driven by education and grassroots engagement, to rebuild a sense of public responsibility. Ending corruption in Lebanon is not just a legal matter—it requires empowering citizens, especially youth and women, to reclaim the state for the common good.
* This is the edited translation of an analysis originally prepared in French by Joseph Maïla, professor of geopolitics and director of
the Mediation Programme at the Institute for Research and Education on Negotiation (IRENÉ) at the Higher School of Economic and
Commercial Sciences (ESSEC), Paris.