Sociopolitical Drivers fostering a Hatred of Convenience: Assessing Lebanese Christians’ Perceptions of Syrian Refugees

Abstract

The trajectory of protracted refugee populations in Lebanon, notably Syrians, has and remains to be subject to a diverse range of potential outcomes. From the improbable potential of partial or full integration into Lebanese society to eventual repatriation to their homeland, these outcomes are significantly shaped by a complex interplay of socioeconomic stressors, political agendas, and media influence and can often have a huge impact on the lived experiences and access to essential human rights of these individuals. The politicization of migrant populations in Lebanon through external and internal political pressures hinging on international geopolitical strategies as well as local partisan interests respectively has complicated the context considerably. Adding to this, bearing in mind; shifts in state policies since 2011, calls for the obstruction of the principle of nonrefoulement, local sectarian power plays, and the potential for Syrian refugee populations to alter national demographics, perceptions towards these refugees have noticeably differed along sectarian and regional lines. Accounting for these factors, this thesis examines the evolving perceptions of Lebanese Christians in particular toward Syrian refugees, focusing on how socioeconomic crises, political narratives, and media discourses have intensified hostility and normalized hate crimes by this segment of society towards Syrian refugees. The study argues that these factors have cultivated a hatred of convenience (Levy, Goldstein , & Phyllis, 1939), where refugees are scapegoated to divert blame from state failure and to rile up support for Christian political parties. Using a mixed method approach; surveys of Christian Lebanese adults and interviews with experts as well as political and municipal figures, it investigates the correlation between worsening perceptions and discriminatory acts since 2019. By narrowing its scope to Christians in non-refugee-dense areas, this study addresses a neglected dimension of refugee-host dynamics, providing insights into how sectarian memory, economic collapse, and political incitement shape public attitudes and compromise refugee rights