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Right after the devastating blast in the port of Beirut, Lebanon’s civil society swung into action, its skills well practiced after a series of national crises created or made worse by chronic political dysfunction. The result, one year later, is the emergence of a vigorous and competent movement that has seized the reins of rebuilding and convinced donors to bypass corrupt government institutions.
“Civil society managed to organize themselves into a pseudo-government. ... It was extraordinary,” says Paul Naggear, whose daughter was killed in the explosion. “They say, ‘My role is not to replace the government; it’s too much responsibility.’ But when they saw ... there was no [government] response, they had to step in.”

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