Lebanon’s Educational Odyssey From the Arab Spring to the Digital Era : Resilience in Chaos

This book critically analyses the state of Lebanon's education system in the aftermath of the 2011 Arab Spring uprisings, which, while not leading to the same level of upheaval as in other countries, nonetheless had profound implications for the region. It investigates three major events over the following decade – the influx of Syrian refugees, the Covid-19 Pandemic, and the Port of Bierut explosion – that have exacerbated existing political and sectarian divisions in Lebanon, resulting in a destabilized environment and a leadership vacuum that have significantly impacted Lebanon's educational landscape. At the same time, civil society movements were calling for urgent political and social reforms. The book uses a humanistic sociological approach which focuses on understanding events from the perspective of those who lived through them, in this case, the families, the children and the young people affected by the decline in educational provision in Lebanon. The book's conclusions are aimed not only at understanding the crisis, but also at proposing actionable recommendations, emphasizing the role of non-profit organizations in supporting the educational infrastructure. This book addresses universal themes such as the integration of refugees into national education systems, the impacts of political instability on access for all children to education, and the role of grassroots movements in advocating for systemic change. Framing Lebanon's situation within a broader international context offers valuable lessons for policymakers and educators facing similar challenges worldwide. Most importantly, it aims to highlight the urgent need for investment in education as a means of rebuilding Lebanon and fostering a more cohesive society.