This thesis provides an analysis of the effectiveness of economic sanctions in countering the activities of the Lebanese non-state actor, Hizballah. It examines the history of economic sanctions in literature and the theoretical models, and explains how such sanctions have evolved over time, becoming more targeted and prevalent in recent years. The paper analyzes the factors that influenced the decision-making process for imposing economic sanctions within the U.S. administration vis-à-vis Hizballah, and specifically highlights the Hizballah International Financing Prevention Act (HIFPA) and its ...
The series of protests and demonstrations across the Middle East and North Africa that started in 2010 have become known as the “Arab Spring”. It was sparked by the first protester Mohamed Bouazizi in Tunisia who burned himself in protest against police corruption and regime’s justice. The spread of demonstrations took over the whole country and then spread over to Yemen, Bahrain, Libya, Egypt and Syria; and during this period, the Middle East witnessed and suffered bloody conflicts, determined uprisings and costly civil wars. Many rulers and presidents resigned or were removed from power, taken ...
This dissertation examines the multi-sector impact of the 2023–2025 Lebanon war and evaluates the role of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and United Nations agencies in the humanitarian response and early recovery. Drawing on systematic secondary data from the World Bank Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (2025), the Food and Agriculture Organization, the World Food Programme, UNDP, OCHA, INSS, CSIS, TIMEP, and a range of humanitarian and security think-tanks, the dissertation documents USD 6.8 billion in direct physical damages, USD 7.2 billion in economic losses, and a total reconstruction ...
The Geneva Conventions have created a new framework that outlines the conduct of war, especially regarding the protection and treatment of various entities, particularly the prisoners of war (POWs). This study examines the use of prisoners of war as political tools in an armed conflict, despite their legal protection under the Third Geneva Convention of 1949. It seeks to explain how and why states use prisoners of war as political leverage to reach their strategic interests. The research was conducted using a qualitative approach based on secondary sources, such as academic journal articles, ...
This thesis analyses the legality of using force in the context of Israeli-Iranian military interactions, with an emphasis on the framework set by international law. The study's goal is to determine if such activities are consistent with the prohibition on the use of force in Article 2(4) of the United Nations Charter and whether they may be justified under Article 51's exception for self-defence. The study fills a significant gap in modern legal literature by examining the applicability of classic use-of-force standards to complicated, indirect, and developing state disputes. It focuses on the ...
This thesis investigates the complex socio-legal and economic determinants influencing the return migration intentions of displaced populations in Lebanon, focusing on a comparative analysis of Armenian, Palestinian, and Syrian communities. Amidst Lebanon's unprecedented socioeconomic collapse, this research utilizes a qualitative approach—incorporating 45 in-depth semi-structured interviews—to identify the "push" and "pull" factors that shape mobility decisions. The study reveals that while economic hardship acts as a universal catalyst for displacement, the decision to return is primarily ...
This thesis examines to what extent neutrality functions as a fixed principle in humanitarian action and how humanitarian organizations construct, interpret, and operationalize neutrality in contemporary conflict settings. Using qualitative document and discourse analysis, the study compares the approaches of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Médecins Sans Frontières, and Oxfam. The findings demonstrate that neutrality is not applied uniformly across humanitarian organizations, but operates along a spectrum shaped by institutional priorities, operational constraints, and ethical ...
This thesis discusses the relationship between the violations of Human Rights and the selective application of International Humanitarian Law in a highly politicized international system. It compares the Israel-Palestine conflict with the Russia-Ukraine war, through emphasizing how legal rules are neglected and ignored. The thesis highlights the increasing politicization of human rights in global governance while summarizing the evolution and intended universality of IHL. It then examines academic discussions and theoretical aspects, particularly liberalism and realism, to explain why states put ...
The Shi'as in Iraq and their religious establishment have been thrusted into the spotlight since the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003. The Shi'ite power and influence are mainly exercised with the sponsorship of the marja'iyya and the clerical body, which are separated between a quietist and activist school. The quietist-activist dichotomy has been controversial since it started to be used for political purposes and criticism with Ayatollah Mohammad Sadeq as-Sadr, and in the aftermath of the fall Saddam. This study includes an introduction on Shi'ite practices and beliefs, and focuses on the major ...
Twenty three years ago, newly independent Moldova, a former soviet republic lodged between Romania and Ukraine, was consumed by fighting between neighbors on opposite banks of the Dniester River. The conflict broke out because citizens on the eastern of “left” bank of the river, in the largely Russian-speaking region known as Transnistria, feared that Romanian-speaking right-bank Moldovans would form a federal union with neighboring Romania. With tacit support from Moscow and in the protective showdown of the Russian 14th Army, Transnistria declared itself an independent republic on its own right ...
The objective of this thesis is to study and analyze the "New Law of Governorates not Incorporated into a Region" which approved the principle of Administration Decentralization in Iraq and to offer contributions and recommendations for it. This thesis, deals with the varied experience and efforts in foresting "Administrative Decentralization and Good Governance" in Iraq after 2003, because this system touches directly the life of people as it enhances public participation in local politics. Following the approval of the New Law and the empowerment of local authorities and the fostering of the ...
Al Khoury, Elise(Notre Dame University-Louaize, 2023-05)
This thesis examines the influence of governmental incapacity on the rise of environmental non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Lebanon, with a particular focus on the case study of the Lebanon Reforestation Initiative (LRI). The research sheds light on the limitations faced by the government in effectively addressing environmental challenges, and how these limitations have contributed to the emergence and growth of NGOs as crucial actors in the environmental sector.
Through a comprehensive analysis of the powers and capabilities of the Ministry-related governmental bodies, this study ...
Seventeen years after the Taef Summit, which was held in Saudi Arabia in October 1989, the reconciliation agreement remains a debatable issue among the Lebanese people, basically among the major Libanese political parties. some have opposed this agreement and others, particularly the Lebanese Forces, have supported and promoted it on both the national and the sectarian levels. For instance, such agreements are not intended to be an end by themselves rather than means, which lead the Lebanese people to coexist peacefully and build a strong system. The Lebanese Forces and the Taef Accord study ...
The thesis aims at clarifying matters relevant to the finances of the municipalities in Lebanon. There is a lot of reformation that needs to take place, and several projects need to execute. There is a need to be aware of the distribution of the monetary allocations to the municipals through the fiscal authority in Lebanon, this comprises from the municipalities right to taxes as well as the municipals private sources of funds. Both revenues work on the enhancement of the service provided to the Lebanese people and the deliverability of the development projects. Initially, this thesis will begin ...
This research explores the extent to which decentralized governance has influenced the management of Lebanon’s protracted crisis. Through a case study of the Municipality of Beddawi’s response to the Syrian Refugee crisis with a recognition of the interlinked health (COVID19) and security crises (recent Israeli raids), and through adopting a combined multi-level governance and network governance approach, the study investigates the interplay between vertical and horizontal structures and actors in the management of the crisis. The focus is primarily on municipal capacity, accountability mechanisms, ...
This study uses a structured literature review to begin an extensive investigation of human rights in Iran. The paper explores women's rights and the startlingly high rate of violence against Iranian women, concentrating on important features. Examining the workings of two major revolutions—the anti-Shah movement and the contemporary state violence entwined with the Green Movement—it analyzes the dynamics of protest policing. Furthermore, the research deconstructs the sociocultural shifts that have shaped Iran's human rights environment and looks at rights violations, including UN denunciations. ...
This master's thesis examines the effectiveness of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in addressing gender-based violence in Lebanon, with a specific focus on the services they provide. The research employs a questionnaire-based method, which was administered to both employees and employers of various NGOs in the country. The study investigates the current landscape of services offered to survivors of gender-based violence and aims to identify existing gaps in this crucial area. The findings of this research highlight a stark reality: the services available for gender-based violence survivors ...
Sensenig, Eugene Richard(The Lebanese Emigration Research Center (LERC) - Notre Dame University Louaize, 2025)
Despite the significant presence of foreign nationals in Lebanon, their experiences and challenges, particularly during times of crisis have been under-researched. The ongoing instability in the Levant since 2023, marked by a significant escalation in violence with the cross-border conflict with Israel that began on 8 October 2023, has further exposed their vulnerabilities. The Lebanese Emigration Research Center (LERC) is launching this series of factsheets to address the challenges faced by foreign nationals during these crises. These factsheets aim to inform policymakers, researchers, ...
Developing countries are participating in the space economy irrespective of being spacefaring states or not. This participation should be organized for national benefit ranging from maintaining sovereignty to economic development. Since the interests of developing countries regarding space law differ from developed and spacefaring states and since this topic has not yet been touched in literature, I am focusing this work on building a guide on what developing non-spacefaring states need to know about space law.