Abstract
The communal partitioning which presently affects Lebanon is the product of a long history of persecution of ethno-religious minorities in the Middle East. But, it has become more accentua ted since the outbreak of the war in 1975 with beleaguered displa cements of population regrouped in geo-confessionnal zones operated by the various foreign forces of occupation. As things stand presently, this partitioning does not fail to block action by trans-communal pressure groups (unions, parties,...) and, moreo ver, creates a situation opportune for interest' groups' (banks, major bussinessmen) controlling the centres of economic decision. These «socially irresponsible» interest' groups are thus safe from any socio-political constraint. To this situation there corresponds a real impoverishment of the Lebanese population, incapable of reacting due to their confinement in «confessional cages».