Building a better Lebanon

For almost a year and a half, Lebanon has been assailed by compounded crises—specifically, an economic and financial crisis, followed by COVID-19, and lastly, the explosion at the Port of Beirut. A confluence of government malpractice, economic instability and external interference has driven Lebanon’s devastating crisis. Without significant change, there are concerns it could persist indefinitely. With the economy now in dire straits, the parameters which govern the shaping of a new Lebanon need examination. It is time to examine a two-stage approach; the first stage focusing on a minimal program to rescue the financial system, buying time to build a consensus on a full reconstruction and reform plan.