What does it mean to oppose sectarianism? An ordinary language study among Lebanese across social backgrounds

Within the literature on identity politics and divided societies, scholars have increasingly focused on how to conceptualize challenges and antitheses to sectarianism. Recent publications have expanded our theoretical understanding of terms such as non-sectarian and anti-sectarian, which are widely used in academic analyses of protests and social movements in divided societies like Lebanon. However, less research has explored the everyday conceptions of what it means to oppose sectarianism. This paper seeks to bridge this gap through an ordinary language study, exploring how Lebanese people from diverse backgrounds understand the notions of non-sectarian, anti-sectarian, as well as the term ‘independent’, which has been used to describe activists and political candidates challenging sectarian politics in Lebanon. Based on interviews with 76 individuals, mostly from the city of Tripoli, the study finds notable disparities between theoretical notions of opposition to sectarianism and the ways citizens perceive the phenomenon. By highlighting these disparities, the study offers key insights into discussions on how theoretical debates about sectarianism and its discontents resonate with lived realities. Moreover, it sheds light on the conditions for challenging sectarianism in Lebanon and beyond.