Blame the French. With the end of European colonialism and rule in the middle east, Lebanon's borders were specifically drawn to give the Christians at most an incredibly slim majority, thus making them dependent on Europe to stay in power. It didn't work out. They got flooded out by Palestinians, Christians emigrated, and the Muslims had a lot more babies.
If the French had not deliberately gerrymandered in some heavily Muslim areas, Lebanon would still be a Christian majority country.
Lebanon has not had an official census since 1932. The Christians know their share will have fallen dramatically (maybe 30-35%), and this would mean an end to the power sharing agreement that keeps Lebanon at least vaguelly held together.
Blame the French. With the end of European colonialism and rule in the middle east, Lebanon's borders were specifically drawn to give the Christians at most an incredibly slim majority, thus making them dependent on Europe to stay in power. It didn't work out. They got flooded out by Palestinians, Christians emigrated, and the Muslims had a lot more babies.
If the French had not deliberately gerrymandered in some heavily Muslim areas, Lebanon would still be a Christian majority country.
Lebanon has not had an official census since 1932. The Christians know their share will have fallen dramatically (maybe 30-35%), and this would mean an end to the power sharing agreement that keeps Lebanon at least vaguelly held together.