Beirut's Heritage as Resistance Against Amnesia and Erasure

In Beirut, Lebanon, heritage represents both truth and memory, standing against the collective forgetfulness fostered by neoliberalism and political indifference. Over the last century, the city has been transformed by colonial pursuits, conflicts, and corruption, with historic structures often treated as mere commodities. More heritage sites have been lost to developers than during the civil war (1975–90), which resulted in approximately 150,000 fatalities. The post-war rebuilding efforts by Solidere led to the demolition of Ottoman and French Mandate buildings, resulting in an expensive commercial area. Heritage regulations complicate profit-making, facilitating demolitions. Official history omits the civil war due to a 1991 amnesty law, while initiatives seek to protect war-damaged sites like Beit Beirut, as citizens strive to restore neighborhoods without government support, preserving their heritage.