Cultural Entry #2: Beirut, the "Paris of the Middle East"

- Ian Rollins

Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, has changed quite a bit over the past 200 years.  The “Paris of the Middle East,” a popular moniker for the city during its golden age, was a safe-haven for Western tourists wishing to experience the exotic wonders of the Middle East with all the comforts of a modern, European metropolis.

Before Lebanon’s liberation from French colonial rule in 1943, Lebanon and the surrounding territories were part of the Ottoman Empire.   The French Mandate came into effect in 1920 as a result of the defeat of the Central Powers in World War I.  The city, a stunning combination of Ottoman and Imperial French architecture, was a seaside paradise with beachside cafes, glamorous resorts, and cool temperatures made it a highly desirable destination for wealthy Westerners and Arabs alike to vacation in.  The nearby Lebanese mountains offered a relaxing retreat from the city with quaint villages and the centuries-old Lebanese cedar forests, renowned for centuries as a source of quality lumber.  Along with the city’s numerous attractions, Lebanon’s financial institutions made it a desirable location for investment.

Conflict amongst the various religious groups, however, pushed the country into a violent civil war, which lasted from 1970-1975.  It was this war that first wrought havoc on the gleaming capital that was Beirut.  Following the Civil War, the city was essentially divided between the various Christian and Muslims neighborhoods.  After a few years of relative stability, warfare broke out once more in 1982.  Chaos once again reigned in Beirut as Israeli forces occupied the city.  It was during this time that horrific atrocities occurred in the Sabra and Shatila Massacres.

Following the withdrawal of Israeli, and later American, forces, and life within the city began to return to normal.  Sectarian tensions do occasionally flair up, however. In recent years, efforts have been made to revitalize the city.  Foreign investment from both the West and the wealthy Gulf States has led to a rebirth of the Beiruti social scene.  All Beirutis, however, don’t embrace modernity as many lament the loss of the city’s historic charm being replaced by contemporary investment.

Sources:

Antelava, Natalia. "'Ugly Beirut' Struggles to Survive Peace." BBC News. BBC, 05 Oct.

2010. Web. 24 Mar. 2014. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8665696.stm.

Friedman, Thomas L. From Beirut to Jerusalem. New York: Farrar Straus Giroux,

1989. Print.

Kaplan, Robert D. The Arabists: The Romance of an American Elite. New York: Free,

1993. Print.