Policy making

Decree Commentary

Beirut, the Confiscated City: 

From Privatizing the Waterfront to Expelling the Displaced

This commentary examines Decree No. 5665/1994, which transferred approximately 291,800 square meters of reclaimed public maritime land in central Beirut to Solidere as part of the post-war reconstruction process. It revisits the decree in light of the ongoing governmental debate over extending the company’s mandate and the eviction of displaced families from the BIEL waterfront, questioning its impacts on public property, Beirut’s waterfront, and the right to the city.

Report

What Do We Know So Far About Post-War Recovery in Lebanon?

Public Works Studio has been monitoring and analyzing post-war recovery in Lebanon since the ceasefire on 27 November 2024, focusing on reconstruction policies, financing, compensation, rubble removal, projects, and displacement. The goal is to create an open database to track developments, identify gaps, and support advocacy, participation, transparency, and policy improvements.

Investigation

The State’s Limited Role in Reconstruction and Its Submission to the Discourse of Inaction

Despite the government’s repeated rhetoric about its commitment to reconstruction and recovery, and the emergence of what appears to be a comprehensive plan, its efforts remain delayed, limited, and fragmented. They rely almost entirely on external loans and grants amid weak local financing, reflecting the absence of an effective, long-term national vision and a surrender to the discourse of state incapacity.