What are the dimensions of the economic crisis that Lebanon is going through? How and why did the situation deteriorate to this degree? What are the expectations in the coming period? Are there solutions? Maher Gabra discusses these questions with Firas Maqsad. A Lebanese-American, Adjunct Prof. at George Washington University of International Relations, and Director of Strategic Communication at the Middle East Institute in Washington DC, which is one of the most important think tanks in the American capital.
Talking Points:
1- Portraying a picture of the economic situation in Lebanon today, and the aspects of the economic crisis that the country is going through (02:20)
2- Reasons for the deterioration of the economic situation in Lebanon (04:49)
3- The meaning of “deliberate inaction” of the political class as a major reason for the current situation (06:51)
4- A brief overview about the Lebanese Civil War and the Taif Agreement (09:06)
5- The role of Hezbollah in the current crisis in Lebanon (13:38)
6- The features of the American policy towards Lebanon, and the impact of the Iranian file on the situation in Lebanon (16:11)
7- The French initiative to solve the Lebanese crisis (19:57)
8- Why is the current crisis different from its predecessors with regard to the Arab intervention to help (22:56)
9- Is Lebanon on the verge of complete collapse (25:32)
10- The repercussions of the possible collapse of Lebanon on the rest of the region (27:48)
11- Ideas and recommendations for the solution (30:12)
