The Lebanese conflict continues to defy the comprehension of outsiders. Yet without a proper understanding of the tensions of the last 150 years the Lebanon experience will remain a mystery. This collection of papers by a group of internationally respected scholars and experts on Lebanon covers a wide range of themes that explain both the roots of the conflict and the basis for resolving it. Among the topics covered are: * the evolution of the country through different historical periods * the history of the various communities in Lebanon and how they interacted, with particular reference to the Maronites and the Druzes in the early period * emigration: the economic implications of Lebanon's independence from 1943 onwards * French and British policies from 1915 until the proclamation of Greater Lebanon (1920) * the impact of foreign intervention on internal politics * systems of power-sharing * social structure and the sociological dimensions of the current conflict * the myths and realities of the Lebanese conflict * the place of South Lebanon in Lebanese politics These papers represent the latest academic research on the background to Lebanon's intractable problems. The collection will be an essential addition to the libraries of all concerned with recent Middle Eastern history, as well as those who have personal connections with Lebanon.