The Architecture of Neglect
The narrative of 'neglect' for vulnerable populations is a familiar one, often used to obscure the active choices and policies that create and maintain such conditions. This is not a new phenomenon. FIRST INSTANCE: The Legacy of Post-War Reconstruction Following the Lebanese Civil War (1975-1990), reconstruction efforts were heavily mediated by powerful political factions and international donors.
The focus often gravitated towards Beirut's central district, with significant private sector involvement, while regions like North Lebanon, particularly Tripoli, received comparatively minuscule state investment in infrastructure and public services (World Bank, 1996). This created a two-tiered development model, where peripheral regions were structurally disincentivized from growth. Many
buildings, already aged and poorly maintained due to decades of conflict, received superficial repairs or none at all. REPETITIONS: The Cycle of Austerity and Controlled Disinvestment 2006 Lebanon War Aftermath: After the 2006 conflict with Israel, international aid poured into Lebanon, but once again, the allocation was disparate. While some areas saw reconstruction, others, like Tripoli,
continued to experience economic stagnation and a lack of public funds for essential maintenance. Reports from the UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat, 2010) highlighted the persistent housing crisis and deterioration of urban fabric in marginalized areas, predicting future structural failures. 2015-2019 Economic Crisis Buildup: As Lebanon's financial crisis deepened, the state's capacity