Points of the Star, Branches of the Cedar: Israeli and Lebanese Military Integration Policies

The use of military policy to foster the political integration of ethno-religious minorities has long been assumed to aid in the formation of national identities in heterogeneous societies. Recent scholarship has challenged this notion in emphasizing the role of political contestation. Using a contrast of contexts research design of Israeli and Lebanese military integration policies, this research looks to the relationship of the military in relation to its society before considering the distinction between the identity and ideology of ethnic minorities. In exploring these facets, a renewed focus on the nexus of identity and ideology is warranted.