Author Type

Undergraduate Student

Date of Award

Spring 4-28-2025

Document Type

Thesis

Publication Status

Version of Record

Submission Date

July 2026

College Granting Degree

Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College

Thesis/Dissertation Advisor [Chair]

Timothy Steigenga

Abstract

This thesis explores how systemic corruption in Lebanon, deeply rooted in sectarian power structures and elite dominance, has eroded governance, exacerbated socioeconomic inequalities, and created vulnerabilities conducive to terrorism. Applying Dennis F. Thompson’s institutional theory of corruption alongside Seamus Miller’s normative and causal frameworks, I analyze how resource mismanagement, elite capture, and governance failures have degraded public trust and diminished state capacity. Drawing on empirical case studies—including the Beirut Port explosion, the failure of Electricité du Liban, and the manipulation of foreign aid—I demonstrate how corruption has weakened institutional legitimacy and contributed to national insecurity. The study concludes by advocating for structural reforms, transparency, and inclusive governance as essential steps to rebuilding Lebanon’s institutional resilience and countering the rise of extremist influence.

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