The Impact of Lebanon’s Multidimensional Crisis on Young Adults’ Political Attitudes and Behavior

Since October 2019, Lebanon has been experiencing one of its most severe economic, financial and political crises, including economic depression, currency depreciation, insolvent banks, capital controls and political stalemate. This multi-dimensional crisis has had devastating consequences for the entire population, as manifested by increased unemployment, growing poverty and rising food prices as well as the emergence of medical supply and fuel shortages. Existing data from Western countries show a link between economic crisis and changes in political attitudes and behavior among citizens. Although research was conducted in Lebanon before and after the current crisis, no study to date adequately explores changes in political attitudes and behavior among young adults in particular after October 2019. This article examines the impact of this multidimensional crisis on young adults’ political attitudes and behavior. Based on interviews with a sample of eighteen young Lebanese between the ages of twenty-one and twenty-seven, we provide a qualitative analysis of how this multidimensional crisis impacted their political attitudes and political behavior. Our findings show that the crisis has led to an increase in political distrust, changes in political affiliations and a decrease in interest in politics among young adults in Lebanon. As information about changes in political attitudes and behavior among the youth amid the ongoing crisis in Lebanon is currently limited, the article provides important insight into the effects of the crisis on young adults’ perceptions.