In his book titled "All Honourable Men: The Social Origins of War in Lebanon," Michael Johnson examines the complex historical and social roots that contributed to the onset of war in Lebanon during the 1970s and 1980s. The book delves into the influence of confessional or ethnic identities and argues that rather than being remnants of a traditional society, the values of ethnic honor and shame are distinctly modern phenomena. This perspective sheds light on the role these social and cultural values played in fueling the conflict.
Johnson's exploration indicates that the culture of honor and patriarchy in Lebanon significantly shaped confessional identity and conflict. By drawing on various sociological and psychoanalytic theories, Johnson discusses how these values contributed to the emotional landscape of ethnic violence in the region.
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