Sextarianism: Sovereignty, Secularism, and the State in Lebanon

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 288 pages
Publication date: 30 May 2022
Publisher: Stanford University Press

The Lebanese state is a unique and complex system that is structured around religious freedom and secular power sharing across sectarian groups. Each sect has its own set of laws that govern kinship matters such as marriage and inheritance, as well as criminal and civil laws that regulate and produce political differences. However, despite these differences, all people in Lebanon share a common bond: they are biopolitical subjects forged through bureaucratic, ideological, and legal techniques of the state.

In her groundbreaking book, Maya Mikdashi offers a fresh perspective on state power, theorizing how sex, sexuality, and sect shape and are shaped by law, secularism, and sovereignty. Drawing on court archives, public records, and ethnography of the Court of Cassation, the highest civil court in Lebanon, Mikdashi demonstrates how political difference is intricately entwined with religious, secular, and sexual difference. She presents state power as inherently contingent, similar to the practices of everyday life that it engenders, focusing on the regulation of religious conversion, the curation of legal archives, state and parastatal violence, and secular activism.

Sextarianism, a concept developed by Mikdashi, locates state power in the experiences, transitions, uprisings, and violence that people in the Middle East continue to live. It recognizes that state power is not a fixed entity but is constantly evolving and shaped by the interactions between different social, political, and economic forces. Sextarianism emphasizes the importance of understanding the complex relationships between these forces and how they shape the experiences of individuals and communities.

One of the key insights of sextarianism is that state power is not only exercised by the state but also by other actors such as religious institutions, civil society organizations, and social movements. These actors often have different agendas and interests, and their interactions with the state can shape the nature and extent of state power. For example, religious institutions may use their influence to promote certain religious practices or values, while civil society organizations may advocate for human rights or social justice. Social movements, such as the Arab Spring, have also played a significant role in challenging state power and promoting democratic reforms.

Another important aspect of sextarianism is its recognition of the role of gender, sexuality, and sect in shaping state power. Women, for example, have often been marginalized and excluded from political participation and decision-making processes, while LGBTQ+ individuals have faced discrimination and violence. Sextarianism argues that these differences should be recognized and addressed as part of any effort to promote democratic reforms and social justice.

In conclusion, the Lebanese state is a complex system that is structured around religious freedom and secular power sharing across sectarian groups. Maya Mikdashi's book, Sextarianism, offers a fresh perspective on state power, theorizing how sex, sexuality, and sect shape and are shaped by law, secularism, and sovereignty. By recognizing the complex relationships between different social, political, and economic forces, sextarianism provides a valuable framework for understanding state power and promoting democratic reforms and social justice. Whether women, men, Muslims, Christians, or LGBTQ+ individuals, all people in Lebanon are biopolitical subjects forged through bureaucratic, ideological, and legal techniques of the state, and their experiences and struggles should be recognized and addressed as part of any effort to build a more inclusive and equitable society.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781503631557