Mobilizing Amidst an Uprising: Independent Professional Associations and Lebanon’s October 17 Movement

Abstract This paper delves into the evolving role of professional associations within the complex political landscape of uprisings and transitions, with a focus on Lebanon through two significant case studies – the Order of Engineers and Architects ( oea ) and the Lebanese Professional Associations–University Professors ( lpa ). While the general trend to understand the fragmentation and marginalization of independent unions and associations in the Arab world is centered mainly on the intricate interplay between these structures and their external environment, this paper looks instead at the internal organizational determinants that had an impact on their effectiveness at times of mobilization. This paper argues that ongoing protests accelerate the value of organizing yet pose irresolvable obstacles to these organizations. This is not primarily due to lack of experience or organizational skills but equally important to the context in which they are unfolding, regardless of how well defined the objectives of these groups might be.