A former Middle East correspondent for the Sunday Times of London, Helena Cobban now writes a regular column on global affairs for the Christian Science Monitor. She has published four books on war and peace issues in the Middle East. Cobban also sits on an advisory committee for Human Rights Watch and is a member of the International Institute of Strategic Studies.

• Preface -- Introduction -- The emergence of inter-sect rule (1516–1920) -- Foundations of the modern state (1920–43) -- The experience of independence (1943–67) -- The breakdown starts (1967–75) -- Eighteen months of civil war (1975-6) -- A troubled inter bellum (1977–82) -- The battles of Beirut (1982–4) -- Conclusions: the inter-sect system enters its fifth century

A former Middle East correspondent for the Sunday Times of London, Helena Cobban now writes a regular column on global affairs for the Christian Science Monitor. She has published four books on war and peace issues in the Middle East. Cobban also sits on an advisory committee for Human Rights Watch and is a member of the International Institute of Strategic Studies.

• Preface -- Introduction -- The emergence of inter-sect rule (1516–1920) -- Foundations of the modern state (1920–43) -- The experience of independence (1943–67) -- The breakdown starts (1967–75) -- Eighteen months of civil war (1975-6) -- A troubled inter bellum (1977–82) -- The battles of Beirut (1982–4) -- Conclusions: the inter-sect system enters its fifth century

A former Middle East correspondent for the Sunday Times of London, Helena Cobban now writes a regular column on global affairs for the Christian Science Monitor. She has published four books on war and peace issues in the Middle East. Cobban also sits on an advisory committee for Human Rights Watch and is a member of the International Institute of Strategic Studies.

• Preface -- Introduction -- The emergence of inter-sect rule (1516–1920) -- Foundations of the modern state (1920–43) -- The experience of independence (1943–67) -- The breakdown starts (1967–75) -- Eighteen months of civil war (1975-6) -- A troubled inter bellum (1977–82) -- The battles of Beirut (1982–4) -- Conclusions: the inter-sect system enters its fifth century