1. Home
2. Culture
3. Lebanon, a Nation Suffering from Its Leaders

An immature, dependent, transgressive and predatory political class has plunged Lebanon into a deep crisis. Prisoners of a psychopathological configuration, the leaders confuse their personal fate with that of the nation.

Amid the turmoil Lebanon is enduring, the psychological factors at play, which are crucial, are often overlooked.

At the root of this profound crisis lies a political class responsible for the current decay, a class whose psychological dysfunctions border on true mental pathologies. Stuck at an infantile stage of development, the men and women in power perpetuate a cycle of subjugation and willful blindness that has upheaved the very soul of the country.

Maturity is not determined by physical age. To attain it, one must successfully pass through the stages of psychosexual development, let go of Oedipal libidinal attachments, internalize the symbolic Law, adopt moral principles, cultivate an authentic self, achieve an autonomous and stable identity, and develop the ability to navigate the political realm with an awareness of the nation's interests, for which one must assume responsibility.

This is what the leaders of this country sorely lack.

Trapped in an infantile position, their constant need for external guardianship mirrors the parent-child dependency dynamic, exposing a profound psychological regression. The mechanisms at work are many: a consistent rejection of responsibility, an inability to make independent decisions for the common good, and a continual need for external validation of a deceptive image.

This infantile fixation is reflected in a constant avoidance of crucial deadlines for the country. The leaders, much like immature children, retreat into regressive behaviors, hoping that external figures of authority will support them in their own neglect. This infantile and irresponsible dynamic echoes throughout all levels of the state, paralyzing institutions and blocking any structural reforms.

But this pathological dependence is merely the visible aspect of a deeper affliction that is eating away at the Lebanese ruling class: unchecked narcissism. The leaders, regardless of their respective domains, present a carefully crafted, flattering image of themselves to conceal their true, perverse intentions. Behind this facade lies a starkly different reality, marked by shady maneuvers and deceitful conduct. This image split reflects a primitive defense mechanism, where the projected grandeur serves to hide a deep-seated narcissistic fragility. Childishly seeking validation from parental substitutes, they engage in contradictory allegiances, playing a double game with various regional and international sponsors. This dependence on foreign powers ultimately drives them to sacrifice national sovereignty for personal gain.

Their insatiable pursuit drives them to treat others as mere instruments to achieve their objectives, revealing a pronounced egocentrism that permeates all their actions. This relational exploitation is accompanied by a lack of empathy and an inability to address the needs of the population and the country. Hence, a profound disconnect arises between their projected image and the reality of their actions.

Trapped within their inflated egos, the leaders find themselves lost in a maze of contradictions, incompetence and inconsistencies. Their speeches, filled with promises and commitments, are nothing more than smokescreens designed to obscure their inability to act in the public's interest. This psychological discontinuity fuels an atmosphere of instability and distrust, eroding the very foundations of the state and undermining citizens' sense of security. For many, hope now lies solely outside Lebanon's borders.

Even more alarming is the pathological relationship these leaders have with the symbolic Law and state institutions. Like pre-Oedipal children governed by the pursuit of instinctual gratification, they place themselves above all restrictions, discarding the most basic principles of the rule of law. The general amnesty they granted themselves for crimes committed during the civil war is a striking example of this systemic transgression. In doing so, they embody an infantile sense of omnipotence, where the very concept of criminal accountability is rendered meaningless.

This psychopathological framework is defined by a primitive mode of functioning, where unbridled impulses take precedence and force replaces dialogue. Systematic violence and the elimination of others become tools for managing both public and private affairs, reflecting a deeply corrupted psychic structure. Their insatiable greed leaves their followers with only scraps.

This systemic transgression is closely linked to another pathology that is eroding the Lebanese political system: institutionalized predation. The leaders treat the state as a private business generating personal profits, transforming public institutions into sources of rents and patronage, looting the savings of thousands of Lebanese, and criminally neglecting the ammonium storage at the port, all while displaying a cynical disregard for the suffering of citizens. National resources are diverted, public contracts are rigged, thus plunging the country into an unprecedented economic, political and social crisis. As Lebanon sinks into runaway inflation and its national currency collapses, the political class continues its petty squabbles over the division of their control.

The perversion of power culminates in the political bargaining system that governs Lebanon. Each community leader participates in this grand market of privileges, seeking to claim their share of the national pie. Alliances are formed and dissolved according to personal interests, with no regard for the public good. This perverse dynamic reveals a psychic structure in which the very concept of the common good has vanished, replaced by a logic of widespread greed.

In this context of institutional decay, the incompetence of the leaders appears as an additional symptom of the pathology that is undermining the Lebanese political system. Rejecting any external aid to improve the functioning of services, they maintain a draconian rationing of electricity to benefit from the advantages provided by carcinogenic generators, ignore the accumulating waste in the streets, offering well-nourished meals to rats, and neglect the maintenance of infrastructure left to deteriorate. This negligence is not accidental; it is part of a broader plan of impoverishment and decay designed to place the country under the grip of a medieval dogmatism. This psychopathological configuration reveals a collective perverse structure that turns the state into a field of ruins, which they continue to fight over, like scavengers dividing the remains of a prey.

The thirst for power among Lebanese leaders has reached excessive proportions, at times bordering on megalomania. Each community leader sees themselves as a messianic figure, the only one able to lead the country toward a brighter future. This delusion of omnipotence is fueled by a vision of power as a divine mission, where the leader’s figure is imbued with an almost divine aura. Entrapped by their own narcissism, the leaders begin to merge their personal fate with that of the nation.

This institutionalized megalomania is reflected in the monopolization of political discourse, with each leader presenting themselves as the sole representative of their community. Differences in opinion are suppressed, dissenting voices are sidelined, and the cult of personality is elevated to the level of a state religion. The appropriation of public discourse reveals deep-seated narcissistic insecurity, where any form of pluralism is seen as an existential threat.

However, this thirst for power cannot be satisfied by mere symbolic domination. It demands total control over the mechanisms of the state, transforming institutions into tools of control and coercion. Security services, public administrations, the judiciary and the media – all pillars of society – are progressively overtaken by partisan factions, serving the personal interests of the leaders. This takeover is accompanied by latent violence, always ready to crush any signs of opposition, often accused of collaborating with the enemy. Like paranoid tyrants, the leaders see conspiracies everywhere and enemies at every turn. This persecutory worldview compels them to tighten their grip on society, stifling both individual and collective freedoms.

Faced with this pathological abuse of power, Lebanese society seems paralyzed, as though numbed by decades of civil or uncivil war and violence. Citizens, held hostage by narcissistic and perverse leaders, find it difficult to mobilize for a change in course. Fear, resignation, cynicism, extreme individualism and the fragility of their situation have gradually eroded the foundations of collective action, leaving the door open to the most disturbing excesses.

A leader's political maturity is reflected in their ability to move beyond the primary narcissism of infantile omnipotence. A mature leader embraces the complexity of the challenges they face, shows humility, and recognizes the limits of their abilities. They uphold the supremacy of the law, respect institutions and the rule of law, resisting the temptations of unchecked power and the immediate satisfaction of their impulses. Their maturity is demonstrated through their capacity to accept doubt and uncertainty, to align their words with their actions, and to remain open to others, listening to the needs of the people and committing wholeheartedly to the common good.

Above all, they internalize the fundamental ethical principle of not doing unto others what they would not wish for themselves.