A new book offers a ancient lens through wich to view Lebanon’s ongoing economic and political collapse, drawing parallels between the nation’s current struggles and a 19th-century peasant revolt. Hassan zein’s “Tanios Shahin, What Did I Do to Deserve This?” examines the 1858 “al-Qawma” uprising against local landowners, arguing that patterns of exploitation and governmental failure have plagued Lebanon for over a century-a cycle exacerbated by sectarianism and foreign intervention, issues that continue to define the country today.The book alleges a modern echo in the actions of Lebanon’s banking sector, accusing it of practices mirroring the historical abuses of power.
A new book is drawing parallels between a 19th-century uprising in Lebanon and the country’s current economic and political turmoil, highlighting a recurring pattern of exploitation and failed governance. Researcher and writer Hassan Zein’s recently published work, “Tanios Shahin, What Did I Do to Deserve This?” revisits the 1858 Lebanese revolt and the subsequent disillusionment of its leaders and impoverished rural participants in the Keserwan and Mount Lebanon regions.
The 1858 uprising, known as “al-Qawma,” initially succeeded in ousting the Khazen family, local landowners accused of oppression. Farmers gained control of their villages, expelled the Khazens, and seized their areas of influence, even burning some of their homes. However, the movement’s leader, a prominent rural figure, ultimately faced a tragic fate as the revolt became entangled with sectarian conflict and regional power struggles.
The initial success of the revolt was led by a farmer who had experienced personal loss, fueled by anger over the injustices perpetrated by the landowners. He successfully spearheaded the first major peasant protest against the power of the landowners and their practice of “muqata’a,” a feudal land tenure system.
The uprising coincided with the emergence of a new Maronite patriarch not aligned with the ruling families, as well as increasing foreign intervention linked to the beginning of the “Eastern Question” – a period of geopolitical tension concerning the decline of the Ottoman Empire. The Ottoman Empire itself issued a reform decree known as the “Khatti Sharif of Gulhane,” aiming to modernize the empire’s administration.
These intersecting factors, coupled with sectarian violence between Druze and Maronite communities in 1860, prompted international and regional intervention to restore order. Farmers ultimately returned to their work and their impoverished conditions. Following the unrest, the system of confessionalism – power-sharing based on religious affiliation – was established in Lebanon, a system that continues to shape the country’s politics today.
Zein’s book draws striking comparisons to the present-day situation in Lebanon, where a powerful banking sector is accused of similar exploitative practices. The author notes that the modern-day equivalent of the 19th-century landowners, known as “al-dayna bil-faydh” – those with excess capital – are the Lebanese banks, which allegedly engaged in reckless financial practices, transferred funds abroad, and seized the savings of Lebanese citizens.
According to the book, these banks are now poised to exploit any remaining state assets, even those legally protected. Zein argues that the current crisis is not merely a technical or financial one, but a result of systemic failures in governance and a corrupt political class prioritizing personal gain over the well-being of the country, even at the risk of total collapse.
The author cites examples of wasteful spending, such as over $50 billion invested in the electricity sector without building new power plants or implementing meaningful reforms, and poorly planned infrastructure projects like dams that have largely failed. He contends that a pattern of conspiracy, silence, and benefiting those with connections persists, with little accountability.
Zein asserts that the root of the current crisis lies in a disregard for existing laws and the constitution, as well as a failure to uphold the principles of the Taif Agreement, a 1989 pact intended to end Lebanon’s civil war and establish a more equitable political system. He suggests that adherence to these principles could have averted the current disaster.
The book also points to the mass exodus of capital from Lebanon prior to and during the financial collapse as evidence of foreknowledge of the impending crisis among the country’s wealthy elite. The author argues that the collapse has led to a deep and pervasive economic downturn, from which recovery will be difficult.
The 2020 Beirut port explosion serves as a stark illustration of this systemic failure. Even the captain of the ship carrying the ammonium nitrate, the “Rosos,” expressed astonishment that Lebanese authorities allowed the dangerous cargo to be unloaded and stored in a vulnerable location. Reports indicate that numerous security officials were aware of the risks but failed to take action.
Despite warnings, the hazardous materials remained in Warehouse 12 until the devastating explosion occurred. Those responsible for the disaster, often referred to as “Lebanon’s Madoff,” remain unaccountable. Adding to the country’s woes, the ongoing conflict instigated by Hezbollah, backed by Iran, has further devastated the nation.
The book concludes by questioning what Lebanon has done to deserve its current fate and whether the country can ever return to a state of normalcy.
