Lebanon is a cohesive society that works towards common goals and avoids marginalization within and between groups

Reach agreement around a core set of values that celebrate diversity and build cohesion whiles making sure no community is marginalized

1. There is common vision and a sense of belonging for all communities
2. The diversity of people’s backgrounds are appreciated and positively valued
3. Those from different backgrounds have similar life opportunities
4. Strong and positive relationships are being developed between people from different backgrounds in the workplace, in schools and within neighborhoods

1. Subjective perceptions of closeness to others
2. Threat Perceptions from other communities
3. Support for discriminatory policies
4. V154 in WVS: The only acceptable religion  is my religion
5. V156 in WVS: morality of people belonging to another religion

1. Social cohesion in Lebanon lacks an inclusive, coordinated policy-making process that brings in the views of all stakeholders – from those involved with their implementation to the final beneficiaries
2. Lack of social capital across communities (i.e., networks of relationships, trust and identity between and within different groups of society) hinders social cohesion
3. Lebanon has a significant non-citizen population that remains structurally excluded politically, socially and economically: "forgotten people"
4. Mistrust in the integrity of the elections 38% (LADE, 2015)
5. Various components of the Lebanese society have incompatible projects for Lebanon
6. Limited mixity in schools, workplaces and neighborhoods
7. No similar life opportunities among communities

1. Lebanese communities are highly segmented along several lines:  sectarian, urban/rural, language, education and wealth
2. The segmentation leads to frequent clashes between communities
3. The influx of over a million Syrian refugees has severely strained the social  fabric and increased divergence between communities
4. Lebanon’s legal system is profoundly discriminatory on the basis of communities and gender
5. Limited data exist on the role of municipalities in promoting or undermining social cohesion through service delivery (Mourad & Piron, 2016)

1. Taif 1989 (counter-productive )& 1943 pact
2. EU fund (2013): support of the Lebanese security sector for stability and national cohesion (€8 million), reinforcing social cohesion (€10 million), and for improving housing and health conditions of the Palestinian refugees in Lebanon (€4 million)
3. Mercy Corps : Causal Labor Initiative* in both Akkar and the Bekaa

1. Work on community dialogues, peace education and conflict sensitive reporting, create safe media spaces, develop local peace mechanisms and work with ex-fighters (campaigns)
2. Foster positive bonding between immigrants and local people (campaigns)
3. Ensure elections integrity (I.C.)
4. Municipalities treat all its constituents equally (I.C.)
5. Unification of school curricula  (Service provisions)
6. Create a secular state that treats all of citizens equally
7. Cf. O2.a (National narrative)