Lebanon and Turkey : Historical Contexts and Contemporary Realities

No empire or a regional power has helped mold the socio-political and religious landscape of a country as the Ottoman Empire and its heir (the Republic of Turkey) have helped shape modern Lebanon. Although the history of Lebanon and Turkish foreign policy have been the focus of a number of studies, no contemporary study has examined Lebanon-Turkish relations back to Ottoman rule of Lebanon. As such, our understanding of this historic and contemporaneous relationship is deficient. This text sets out to fill this gap, examining patterns and shifts in Lebanon-Turkey relations within the context of regional and international politics from Ottoman rule to Turkey’s AKP-led governments.

This comprehensive account of Lebanon-Turkey relations, grounded in layers of cultural, political, demographic, economic, and sectarian complexities and changes across centuries, analyzes the developments and dynamics that have helped shape modern Lebanon and its confessional system and politics. It underscores the misconceptions and lessons learned from this long-term relationship, locating Lebanon-Turkish relations along a historical continuum.