Commemoration of the Aug. 4, 2020, explosion by the Lebanese diaspora in France, with Lebanese flags in front of the Eiffel Tower. (Credit: Marc Chami/OLJ)
Economic collapse for the past five years, and deadly clashes in Southern Lebanon between Hezbollah and the Israeli army for 11 eleven months: Lebanon is in turmoil, and it has been going on for far too long. A source of hope for the country's future, the Lebanese diaspora now seems to be in a constant struggle between unwavering love for their homeland and growing frustration with a situation deemed nearly hopeless.
This is what emerged from conversations The Orientalist Journal had with five influential figures from the Lebanese diaspora in France and Canada. While all stress the need to reform a country cornered by crises, some advocate for a comprehensive approach focused on structural reforms and strong diplomacy, while others emphasize the urgent need for immediate mobilization to address the state’s collapse. These testimonies reflect a diaspora caught in deep contradictions, characterized by hope and disillusionment, but also by solidarity and internal divisions.
'Hope is an act of bravery'
Naoum Abi Rached founded Diaspora Libanaise Overseas (DLO) in Paris in 2010 to facilitate the integration of young Lebanese expatriates in France. For him, Lebanon is held hostage by a "mafia" that "controls everything and besieges the country," preventing any prospect of recovery. He asserts that there is "no project for Lebanon's future, no government, no coexistence." Faced with this deadlock, Abi Rached sees the diaspora as a "lifeline" for Lebanese people, with the brain drain being the only alternative to preserve Lebanese identity in the absence of internal solutions.
This pessimism is somewhat tempered by Rodrigue Raad, president of the same association. He sees the diaspora and the new generations playing a crucial role, believing they aspire to rebuild the country based on the Taif Agreement and the Constitution. The only drawback is: "Although present around the world and holding important positions, the diaspora suffers from a lack of collective coordination," he notes. In this context, he advocates for better representation of the diaspora in local politics and calls for enhanced lobbying to assert the diaspora's place on the international stage. Raad does not hide his concern about the ongoing conflict in the region: "Lebanon's future is at stake," and according to him, the results of the upcoming U.S. elections will be decisive in determining Lebanon's fate. He concludes: "Hope is an act of bravery."
This divergence in perspectives highlights a central contradiction: while some view the diaspora as a saving force, others question its actual ability to influence the country's future. Professor Fouad Zmokhol, president of the International Confederation of Lebanese Businessmen (Midel) and dean of the business school at the Saint-Joseph University of Beirut, states, "Without the diaspora, the Lebanese would not be the same," emphasizing its impact on the way Lebanese think and live in their homeland.
However, he acknowledges that this diaspora, which sent $6.7 billion in remittances in 2023, according to figures from the Central Bank of Lebanon published last May, to support the private sector, is plagued by a loss of trust. He argues that the COVID-19 pandemic temporarily froze the crisis, allowing Lebanese businesses to restructure despite ongoing difficulties. But economic recovery remains nearly impossible without lasting political stabilization, "whether it comes from within or from outside." For Zmokhol, the challenge lies less in the lack of funds than in the ineffective management and social fragmentation that weaken the country's collective resilience.
The issue of fragmentation is also central for Ziad al-Sayegh, executive director of the Civic Influence Hub. Founded in 2012 in Lebanon, CIH presents itself as a strategic lobbying group contributing to the creation of various diasporic committees such as the Lebanese-French Coordination Committee (CCLF) and the Lebanese-Canadian Coordination Committee (CCLC). "We are in discussions with other countries to establish these associative lobbies, including in Australia, Germany, Italy, England and Switzerland," he notes. For him, the diaspora primarily suffers from a lack of collective coordination, a problem exacerbated by widespread distrust of Lebanese institutions. "We need strong public diplomacy and a united diasporic force to establish a state of citizenship," he advocates. Sayegh also emphasizes the need to restructure the country from within with a long-term vision, strengthening institutions and defining a common identity around citizenship and liberalism.
Finally, Marc Morkos, a doctoral student in law and lecturer at the Sorbonne University in Paris, and an active member of the CCLF, shares this critical view of the situation in Lebanon but expresses concern about the collapse of public institutions and the inability of political leaders to restore lasting stability. However, he sees the diaspora as a community capable of restoring coexistence and overcoming internal divisions.
