The death of the Second Republic: Understanding the spark for social mobilization in contemporary Lebanon
The death of the Second Republic: Understanding the spark for social mobilization in contemporary Lebanon

Author(s): Marie-Christine Ghreichi
Subject(s): Politics, Civil Society, Governance, Government/Political systems, Corruption - Transparency - Anti-Corruption
Published by: IFIMES Mednarodni inštitut za bližnjevzhodne in balkanske študije
Keywords: Beirut; explosion; Lebanon; politics; demonstration; corruption; negligence;
Summary/Abstract: Felt across the Mediterranean on August 4th, 2020, some 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate stored in the port of Beirut exploded, killing at least 190 people and injuring at least 6,500, resulting in an estimated $10–15 billion USD in property damage, and leaving an approximately 300,000 people homeless. The ammonium nitrate gas had been stored in a warehouse without proper safety measures in place for the previous six years, after having been confiscated by the Lebanese authorities from the cargo ship MV Rhosus that had docked in Beirut and been declared unseaworthy. The official cause of the detonation is under investigation. Yet the ruling elites’ failure to address the presence of the material in the port and the subsequent explosion perhaps signifies the apex of political corruption and public negligence.

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