Informal settlements in Lebanon, a complex and long-standing phenomenon, are the result of multiple factors. These include influxes of refugees, rural-to-urban migration, the scars of civil war and ongoing conflicts, and the adoption of neoliberal policies. While some view informal settlements as a manifestation of the right to the city, they also present significant challenges. This first part of our two-part article explores the origins of these settlements’ proliferation in Lebanon and the Global South, and delves into the ongoing discussions surrounding them.