Conference Paper
Conflict Exposure in a Multi-Sectarian Society: Evidence from Lebanon
No.
ERF32AC_48
Publisher
ERF
Date
May, 2026
Topic
C9. Design of Experiments
N4. Government, War, Law, International Relations, and Regulation
D7. Analysis of Collective Decision-Making
This study examines how conflict exposure shapes trust in a multi-sectarian society where all groups experienced the same violent conflict but were affected differently. Using survey data collected from 198 Lebanese citizens in Beirut, we find that conflict is associated with trust heterogeneously across Christians, Sunni Muslims, and Shia Muslims. Conflict exposure during the Lebanese Civil War is associated with greater distrust among Christians towards other sects, while the opposite pattern holds for Shia Muslims. For Sunni Muslims, trust is positive but statistically imprecise. These associations are most pronounced when exposure occurs before birth or during childhood, highlighting the enduring influence of war. The differing results are likely linked to the nature of victimization and political outcomes of the conflict: Christians lost political power, while Sunni and Shia Muslims gained it. This provides insight into how shifts in political power and victimization shape intergroup trust after conflict.