Broadcasting regulation and civil society in postwar Lebanon

Providing a regulatory framework for dozens of unlicensed wartime radio and television stations has been an arduous task for postwar Lebanese governments. Based on Lebanese media monitoring, a review of the Lebanese press, and interviews with media people in Lebanon, this study traces the development of broadcasting in prewar Lebanon, describes wartime changes, and discusses postwar broadcasting regulation in the country within the framework of civil society. Examining the factors that shaped regulation and the forces opposing it, this article calls for a more inclusive regulatory framework preserving national stability and media freedom.