From leading experts on Lebanese politics and society, a comprehensive account of the country's descent into chaos since 2019.

Lebanon is in freefall. Poverty is rising exponentially, healthcare is at breaking point, corruption is rampant, and educated professionals are leaving the country in droves. How did this happen?

Lebanon: Anatomy of a Collapse explores the unravelling of the Lebanese state. Bringing together industry experts and academics, this timely collection analyses the complex and interconnected crises that have driven Lebanon into the abyss, whether political or social, financial or legal. With a clear and compelling narrative, the contributors highlight the economic mismanagement, infrastructure devastation, and government, educational and media breakdowns that have left the country in ruins. From the financial collapse of 2019 to the 2020 Beirut port explosion, and from the latest Israel–Lebanon war to the disastrous repercussions of the Syrian refugee crisis, this volume reveals the compounding effects of systemic failures, historical fractures and political ineptitude. It also examines the struggles of Lebanese society to maintain a semblance of institutional life and functionality, despite widespread disruption and chronic uncertainty.

This is an urgent and nuanced perspective on Lebanon’s tumultuous recent years, offering crucial insights for readers seeking to understand and learn from the calamitous implications of state failure. Can Lebanon recover from the traumas of its past?