Phoenicianism

Map showing the maritime expansions of the Phoenician civilization across the Mediterranean Basin, starting from around 800 BC

Phoenicianism is a form of Lebanese nationalism that apprizes and presents ancient Phoenicia as the chief ethno-cultural foundation of the Lebanese people. It is juxtaposed with Arab migrations to the Levant following the early Muslim conquests in the 7th century, which resulted in the region's Arabization. As such, this perspective opposes pan-Arabism and pan-Islamism, and also seeks to resist Syrian influence on the Lebanese political and cultural spheres.[1]

Within Lebanon, the Phoenicianist ideology has most notably garnered support among Lebanese Christians, especially the Maronites.[2][3] Adopted by Christian intellectuals upon the creation of the French-administered State of Greater Lebanon,[2] Phoenicianism has been endorsed by a number of prominent Lebanese figures, such as the Maronite poet Saïd Akl, and by political organizations like the Lebanese Renewal Party, which was succeeded by the Guardians of the Cedars.[4] It was a popular viewpoint among Christian political-military factions during the Lebanese Civil War.

  1. ^ Najem, Tom; Amore, Roy C.; Abu Khalil, As'ad (2021). Historical Dictionary of Lebanon. Historical Dictionaries of Asia, Oceania, and the Middle East (2nd ed.). Lanham Boulder New York London: Rowman & Littlefield. p. 241. ISBN 978-1-5381-2043-9.
  2. ^ a b El-Husseini, Rola (2012). Pax Syriana: Elite Politics in Postwar Lebanon. Syracuse University Press. p. 199. ISBN 978-0-8156-3304-4. Phoenicianism. The "Phoenicianist" discourse of Lebanese identity was adopted by Christian (primarily Maronite) intellectuals at the time of the creation of Greater Lebanon. The Maronites' stated goal of establishing a Christian refuge in the Middle East was instrumental in convincing the French authorities to designate Lebanon as a separate nation-state. The origin myth adopted by the Christian advocates involved a purportedly independent cultural legacy that was said to have existed in Lebanon since ancient times.
  3. ^ Najem, Tom; Amore, Roy C.; Abu Khalil, As'ad (2021). Historical Dictionary of Lebanon. Historical Dictionaries of Asia, Oceania, and the Middle East (2nd ed.). Lanham Boulder New York London: Rowman & Littlefield. p. 345. ISBN 978-1-5381-2043-9.
  4. ^ Najem, Tom; Amore, Roy C.; Abu Khalil, As'ad (2021). Historical Dictionary of Lebanon. Historical Dictionaries of Asia, Oceania, and the Middle East (2nd ed.). Lanham Boulder New York London: Rowman & Littlefield. p. 345. ISBN 978-1-5381-2043-9.