Coexistence after multiple massacres and forced displacement: post-conflict relations between Druzes and Christians in Lebanon

Mass violence has been a recurring phenomenon in the Middle East. This study examines how coexistence is experienced in a post-conflict setting shaped by repeated episodes of sectarian violence. It focuses on how Druze and Christian communities in Lebanon’s Chouf-Aley region navigate everyday relations decades after conflict. This case is particularly significant, as these communities continue to share the same spaces despite a long history of unresolved tensions. Drawing on a secondary analysis of semi-structured interviews (n = 46) conducted with residents of both communities, the study investigates how coexistence is understood and practiced in daily life. Using reflexive thematic analysis, six themes were identified, including lived experiences of violence, intergenerational transmission of memories, perceptions and representations of the other, and patterns of everyday interaction. Findings indicate that coexistence is sustained less through reconciliation or dialogue than through pragmatic boundary maintenance and cautious interaction. While daily encounters are largely non-conflictual, they remain shaped by collective trauma and social identity dynamics. These patterns reflect a form of negative peace characterized by stability without deep reconciliation. The findings contribute to understanding the limits of post-conflict peace and offer insights for peacebuilding initiatives in similarly divided communities in the Middle East.