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The Geographical Review October 1996, Vol. 86(4), pp. 487-504. Economic Recovery and Reconstruction in Postwar Beirut Dona J. Stewart ABSTRACT: After sixteen years of brutal civil war Beirut is being rebuilt. In this article I note the causes of the city's destruction and examine the fundamental demographic shifts that lie behind Lebanon's internal power struggle. Current reconstruction plans, already being implemented, call for a new, peaceful Beirut. Despite their aspirations, the plans fail to address the underlying tensions in Lebanese society, which is divided along religious and socioeconomic lines. Finally, I assess the likelihood of Beirut's economic recovery, given the current regional political situtation. Keywords: economic recovery, Lebanon, Middle East, reconstruction Dr. STEWART is an assistant professor of geography at Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia 30303-3083. To contact the author: Professor Dona J. Stewart Georgia State University Department of Geography University Plaza Atlanda, GA 30303 Phone: (404) 651-1829 office, (404) 651-3235 fax Email: gegdjs@panther.gsu.edu