Reconciliation through reintegration?

Although the Lebanese Civil War ended in 1991 and Beirut became a reunified city, much of it remains divided between a Christian East and a Muslim West. Beyond certain parts of the capital, many of its residential neighborhoods remain almost entirely religiously homogeneous. This study takes an in-depth look at two neighborhoods undergoing sectarian integration. Relying on neighborhood observations and face-to-face interviews with over 30 residents, it highlights the reasons that residents have chosen to reside in non-co-religious neighborhoods. Factors facilitating sectarian residential integration seem to include a past history in the neighborhood, historical ownership of assets in the area, appealing neighborhood attributes, affordability, and location (vis a vis other destinations and activities). Mixing appears to be a function of larger dynamics as well, such as the rising price of real estate that excludes many groups from other desirable areas. This study reveals that rising real estate prices in and around Beirut are driving people to reside in more affordable, yet non-co-religious neighborhoods. I analyze the extent to which and under what conditions spatial proximity actually leads to social relations between non-co-religionists. Integration alone does not seem to guarantee interaction. Factors limiting cross-sectarian interaction within the same neighborhood appear to include an absence of neighborhood attachment and identification, high levels of personal activity in other locations, involuntary or temporary relocation, and co-religious clustering. Factors facilitating the production of cross-sectarian social relations within a neighborhood include high levels of neighborhood engagement and activity, experience growing up in a mixed neighborhood, attendance at a religiously-mixed school, and weak political party affiliation. I speculate that a relatively apolitical, secular, and non-polarizing environment facilitates integration. Alternatively, the presence of polarizing political and religious images and symbols can act as barriers, essentially keeping non-co-religionists out. I also speculate that with rising real estate prices, more families may be forced to live in non-co-religious or polarized neighborhoods and this may introduce increasing tension. Public policies should thus focus on improving relations between non-co-religionists living in mixed neighborhoods. Enhancing civic engagement of all the groups in such integrated environments may head-off tensions and instability and strengthen collective community identification.