The supervigilantes: the Lebanese Kataeb Party as a builder,surrogate and defender of the state

The Lebanese Kataeb Party (Hizb al‐Kata'ib al‐Lubnaniyya) is the most important example in the Arab world of an organised mass party which is nationally based and competitive. In a country renowned for its individualism and shifting political allegiances it has maintained and increased its solidarity and discipline. In a polity averse from long‐term, coherent, detailed planning it has consistently applied these principles without losing short‐term flexibility. From an overwhelmingly Maronite base in a society moulded by sectarianism it has followed a non‐confessional policy of national advancement, not least for regions where Maronites do not form a majority. And while remaining a competitive party, independent of the state, it has attempted to perform many of those roles of state‐ and nation‐building which are typical of single parties. It is with the Kataeb's self‐appointed duties towards the state that this paper is concerned.