THE INFLUENCE OF ECONOMIC FACTORS ON SOCIAL COHESION BETWEEN SYRIANS AND LEBANESE COMMUNITIES

Abstract

Lebanon hosts around 1.1 million Syrian refugees registered by the UNHCR which is around 25% of the Lebanese population. 17 Students from 10 nationalities conducted a research in Zahle district of Lebanon to measure the impact of economic factors on the social cohesion among Syrians and Lebanese communities. During the 6 days, the 5 indepth interviews, 5 focus groups and 281 surveys of Lebanese and Syrians were conducted. Findings of the research show that the tensions between Lebanese and Syrian people are increasing due to the formal constraints, growth of informal economy and aid received by refugees.