-
Research Article
Beyond the Confessional State: Power, Authority, and Political Order in Contemporary Lebanon
Shaul Michael Gabbay*
Issue:
Volume 9, Issue 4, December 2026
Pages:
258-266
Received:
27 September 2026
Accepted:
5 October 2026
Published:
23 October 2026
Abstract: Lebanon is commonly interpreted through confessionalism, but formal confessional institutions alone do not explain how citizens obtain access to the state, how organizations exercise authority, or why political arrangements persist through repeated crises. This article presents a conceptual synthesis of scholarship on Lebanese confessionalism, clientelism, welfare provision, civil society, political economy, and armed authority, supplemented by recent survey research and primary institutional reporting on developments after 2019. It compares how brokerage and relational access operate across political families, sectarian parties, welfare organizations, municipalities, armed actors, diaspora ties, and foreign patronage, and how successive economic, institutional, and security shocks alter the value of those relationships. The analysis is interpretive rather than statistical and does not claim representative measurement of individual attitudes or causal effects. Building on Portes's treatment of the negative consequences of social capital and on network theory's account of position-dependent resources, the article uses social liability to identify the costs attached to otherwise useful ties and network revaluation to trace changes in their practical value. The Lebanese evidence indicates that scarcity can simultaneously weaken patrons' distributive capacity and increase the premium on privileged access, while institutional reform matters to the extent that citizens become less dependent on brokers. The declining need to locate “the right person” is proposed as an observable indicator of reform.
Abstract: Lebanon is commonly interpreted through confessionalism, but formal confessional institutions alone do not explain how citizens obtain access to the state, how organizations exercise authority, or why political arrangements persist through repeated crises. This article presents a conceptual synthesis of scholarship on Lebanese confessionalism, clie...
Show More
-
Research Article
Pathways to Peace: Identifying Opportunities for Successful Peacebuilding in Post-conflict South Sudan
Dut Bol Ayuel Bill*
Issue:
Volume 9, Issue 4, December 2026
Pages:
267-275
Received:
16 September 2026
Accepted:
4 October 2026
Published:
29 October 2026
Abstract: This study investigates the primary opportunities for successful peacebuilding in post-conflict South Sudan, a nation grappling with the legacies of prolonged conflict and the challenges of sustainable recovery. Employing an exploratory research design, the study surveyed 169 respondents drawn from key segments of society, including government officials, representatives of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), traders, and students. The research utilized a combination of structured and unstructured questionnaires to ensure a comprehensive understanding of stakeholder perspectives, and data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 24 to provide robust statistical support for the findings. The results indicate that economic reconstruction is perceived as the most critical peacebuilding priority, as identified by 50.3% of respondents. This underscores the widespread recognition that rebuilding livelihoods, restoring infrastructure, and fostering economic growth are central to achieving lasting peace. Security sector reform emerged as the second most important opportunity (17.8%), reflecting the urgent need to strengthen institutions responsible for maintaining law and order, while social reconstruction (9.5%) was also highlighted as a key component, emphasizing reconciliation and the rebuilding of social trust within communities. Furthermore, the study finds significant support for improved implementation frameworks for peacebuilding initiatives, with 45% of respondents strongly agreeing and 18% agreeing with the need for more effective operationalization. Mutually accountable agreements between the government and international partners also garnered strong endorsement (52% strongly agree), signaling the importance of transparency and shared responsibility. Additional opportunities identified by respondents include the development of contingency relief structures (24%), the formulation of a shared peacebuilding doctrine (22%), institutional refurbishing (20%), and the establishment of mentorship programs (18%) to nurture local leadership and capacity. Collectively, these findings provide essential empirical evidence for policymakers, practitioners, and international stakeholders seeking to design and implement more effective peacebuilding strategies in South Sudan. The research highlights that a sustainable peace process must prioritize economic reconstruction, foster inter-institutional collaboration, and establish frameworks that promote accountability, inclusivity, and resilience in the face of ongoing challenges.
Abstract: This study investigates the primary opportunities for successful peacebuilding in post-conflict South Sudan, a nation grappling with the legacies of prolonged conflict and the challenges of sustainable recovery. Employing an exploratory research design, the study surveyed 169 respondents drawn from key segments of society, including government offi...
Show More
-
Research Article
On the Matter of War Reparations in German Doctrine - a Comparative Analysis with Special Consideration of Poland and Greece
Magdalena Katz*
Issue:
Volume 9, Issue 4, December 2026
Pages:
276-285
Received:
18 August 2026
Accepted:
31 August 2026
Published:
9 November 2026
Abstract: The current paper analyzes Greek and Polish reparation claims against Germany after 1939 - 1945 physical occupation of these countries under special consideration of the German lines of reasoning in respected cases. At the beginning the author presents an overview of Polish literature. At my point of view there are further possibilities to claim reparations from Germany than the ones considered by Polish scholars. Germany did not fulfill the conditions of Marshal Plan and failed to establish a liberal democratic order after 1945. The financial assets, as transferred to Germany within Marshal Plan, were granted under strict conditions. Since these conditions weren’t met, the funds are supposed to be transferred back automatically with interest. Further I introduce shortly international law and I take a look at the past of international relationships as well as the fact, that 2+4 Treaty does not contain any regulation regarding reparations. The lack of a regulation on reparations in an international treaty may not mean that the contracting parties decided that there would be no legal base for reparations. It rather means that the states could not agree on a proper regulation and that is why they could not include this matter in an interstate agreement. I analyze the legal situation in case of Greece. I introduce German reasoning in case of Greece, like clausula rebus sic stantibus, venire contra proprium fatum, bona fides, or barred claims due to the statute of limitations. I present the German point of view in case of Poland. In this respect I devote attention to the „resignation” on reparations, which could have been declared 1953. Germany argues in this regard that the workers’ appraisal 1953 in Germany Democratic Republic would have given Poland the “motivation” to resign on reparations. At my point of view, this reasoning suffer from logic explanation and I thus coin a new term: “legal act de sensu”. Different than Poland, Greece has never issued a “resignation”, what makes the comparison even more challenging.
Abstract: The current paper analyzes Greek and Polish reparation claims against Germany after 1939 - 1945 physical occupation of these countries under special consideration of the German lines of reasoning in respected cases. At the beginning the author presents an overview of Polish literature. At my point of view there are further possibilities to claim re...
Show More
-
Research Article
Unlocking Post-Conflict Resilience: Pathways to Sustainable Peacebuilding, Institutional Reform, and Economic Reconstruction in South Sudan
Dut Bol Ayuel Bill*
Issue:
Volume 9, Issue 4, December 2026
Pages:
286-296
Received:
16 September 2026
Accepted:
5 October 2026
Published:
13 November 2026
DOI:
10.11648/j.jpsir.20260904.14
Downloads:
Views:
Abstract: South Sudan, the world’s youngest nation, continues to grapple with the legacy of prolonged civil conflict, which has resulted in pervasive instability, weak institutions, and ongoing humanitarian crises. The persistent volatility in political, social, and economic spheres has made the quest for sustainable peace particularly complex, highlighting the urgent need for evidence-based strategies. This study systematically explores the primary barriers and potential pathways to peacebuilding in post-conflict South Sudan. Employing an exploratory mixed-methods approach, the research collected comprehensive empirical data from 169 stakeholders, comprising government officials, NGO practitioners, traders, and scholars, through structured and semi-structured questionnaires. SPSS version 24 was used for quantitative analysis to ensure rigor and reliability. Findings reveal that weak strategic planning and the lack of a shared national vision, both cited by 63% of respondents (p < 0.001), stand out as the most critical obstacles, largely attributed to inadequate institutional arrangements (45%) and inefficient financial mechanisms (18%). Nonetheless, economic reconstruction was identified as the foremost opportunity for sustainable peace (50.3%), followed closely by security sector reform and social reconstruction. Respondents emphasized that robust, context-sensitive implementation frameworks (63%) and transparent, accountable governance partnerships (52%) between state and international actors are essential for progress. The study concludes that integrating state-building with localized economic stabilization, reinforcing institutional capacity, and establishing co-managed accountability mechanisms are vital steps for overcoming elite-driven fragmentation, restoring public trust, and fostering lasting peace in South Sudan. These insights offer practical guidance for policymakers, international partners, and local actors committed to supporting the nation’s transition from conflict to sustainable development.
Abstract: South Sudan, the world’s youngest nation, continues to grapple with the legacy of prolonged civil conflict, which has resulted in pervasive instability, weak institutions, and ongoing humanitarian crises. The persistent volatility in political, social, and economic spheres has made the quest for sustainable peace particularly complex, highlighting ...
Show More
-
Research Article
Legal Status and Political Legitimacy in Somali Permanent and Transitional Governance since Independence: Between Rule and Anarchy
Abdiqani Ahmed Farah*,
Abdifatah Mohamed Khalif
Issue:
Volume 9, Issue 4, December 2026
Pages:
297-310
Received:
13 October 2026
Accepted:
26 October 2026
Published:
14 November 2026
DOI:
10.11648/j.jpsir.20260904.15
Downloads:
Views:
Abstract: The relationship between social legitimacy and legal power/authority in permanent and transitional governance is examined in this essay. In 1960, Somalia gained independence and became known as the Somali Democratic Republic. The dictatorial government of Siad Barre was a major factor in the Somali Democratic Republic's collapse after 31 years of independence and two more administrations. Bringing Somali ethnological clan groups together to rebuild the nation-state has been a major problem for the international community. Institutional fragility is a common feature of transitional societies, where political stability and public trust cannot be sustained by constitutional legitimacy alone. This study examines how formal state institutions—primarily the federal government, federal member states, traditional sectors, and international and national organisation or groups that are socially embedded actors—negotiate governance authority in contexts of political transition, post-conflict reconstruction, and institutional uncertainty using a qualitative normative approach. According to different perspectives, the introduction of openness, accountability, participation, rule of law, and societal legitimacy often diminishes illegitimate authority. However, a large number of participants agreed that the rule of law is crucial to any government and that violations of its principles can result in arbitrariness and defilements/violations of fundamental rights. However, despite not having a formal constitutional standing, informal governance systems may become more widely accepted in society even though they are not linked to social legitimacy. The paper presents the idea of "legitimacy-fluid governance," which describes the dynamic transfer of power between formal and informal institutions based on societal approval, public trust, and political performance. The study identified the role of the rule of law in guaranteeing good governance and how corruption and power abuse have gravely threatened it, which in turn has an impact on good governance. This study validates that the demise of subsequent governments, whether permanent or transitional, since independence on July 1st, 1960, to the present day, is fundamentally shaped by the dynamic interaction between legal authority and social legitimacy. In conclusion, as the Somali political system has undergone changes across the three stages of governance, the study addresses the proposed definition of legitimacy and the issue of political disorder within the Somali federal government, while also offering satisfactory solutions to the problems identified in the study. In addition, customs and clans have gained strong social recognition over the years, even though they lack formal constitutional standing and operate informally in conflict resolution at both local and federal levels, as clan conflicts transcend the clan-based federal states.
Abstract: The relationship between social legitimacy and legal power/authority in permanent and transitional governance is examined in this essay. In 1960, Somalia gained independence and became known as the Somali Democratic Republic. The dictatorial government of Siad Barre was a major factor in the Somali Democratic Republic's collapse after 31 years of i...
Show More
