Colonial cartography and the annexation of Jabal Amil into Greater Lebanon

Abstract

The dissolution of the Ottoman Empire and the imposition of new borders by colonial powers profoundly reshaped the Levant, creating new political entities under European sponsorship. Among these was the annexation of the predominantly Shi’a region of Jabal Amil into the newly established State of Greater Lebanon under the French Mandate (1920). Grounded in Postcolonial Studies, this article critically examines the sociopolitical repercussions of this annexation. The theoretical framework articulates concepts of colonialism, border-making, and confessional politics. Methodologically, the research adopts a qualitative approach, combining specialized literature review with documentary analysis of primary sources, including publications from the al-Irfan journal and petitions to the King-Crane Commission, thereby accessing local narratives marginalized in official historiographies. The findings show that the annexation intensified the political and economic marginalization of the Shi’a, limiting their access to public office and infrastructure investment, while simultaneously weakening traditional leadership and fostering the emergence of armed resistance movements. The disruption of trade networks with Palestine deepened regional underdevelopment, while the institutionalized confessional system favored Christian and Sunni elites. The discussion highlights that, despite occasional concessions such as the creation of the Jaafari Court, the power structure maintained exclusionary patterns that perpetuated inequalities. The study concludes that the annexation of Jabal Amil into Greater Lebanon not only redefined geographic borders but also consolidated social and political boundaries, whose implications continue to shape the dynamics of identity and marginalization of the Shi’a community in Lebanon to this day.