Historically, the Lebanese have been emigrating since the Phoenicians era. The Phoenicians were known for their exploratory expeditions as they sailed around the Mediterranean basin. The founding of Carthage in 814 BC was precipitated by Phoenician migration into the western Mediterranean, traditionally from Tyre, in search of raw materials. They also sailed around Africa and rumors say to the Americas. The Lebanese people relate to the Phoenicians as they are characterized with a migratory spirit. The documented Lebanese emigration began during the second half of the nineteenth century. Emigration could be analyzed focusing on four questions: Why, when, where and how many.

Lebanon is be a relatively tiny country, almost the size of the state of Connecticut in the USA, but the Lebanese “Nation” that embraces the people of Lebanese descent is an empire where the sun always shines. The famous Lebanese poet Said Akel, expressed this fact in his own way: ” …Anywhere we please, we build a Lebanon ”.

Substantial emigration occurred between 1860 and 1914. During this period, approximately 330,000 Lebanese left the country. Between 1900 and 1914 the annual rate was about 15,000. The rate dropped sharply during the Mount Lebanon famine of World War I and immediately thereafter, but resumed at a net annual emigration rate of about 3,000 between 1921 and 1939. The destination of the early emigrants was Egypt, France, Africa and the Americas.

One of the reasons behind the Lebanese emigration is the size of the country. Located in the cradle of ancient history, Lebanon’s population could have been much larger if it was geographically a little more spacious. Unfortunately , its rough mountainous terrain and narrow coastal plains, made it so hard on the inhabitants of Lebanon to rely on agriculture as income. The economic roots of emigration may be traced to the increase of crop specialization during the 19th century and to the subsequent setbacks of the silk market toward the end of the century. The high literacy level among the Lebanese, due to the influx of foreign missionaries in the 19th century, played a big role in emigration as it triggered a brain drain and elites seeking better life and job opportunities.

Political incentives also contributed to emigration since the internal conflicts of the1860’s to the subsequent wars and civil strives of 1939, 1958, 1975,1982 and 1990. many of the emigrants headed to the USA, Canada, Australia and the Gulf countries.

In 1986, the World Lebanese Cultural Union estimated that some 13,300,000 persons of Lebanese origin were living abroad, the largest numbers in Brazil, the United States, and Argentina. Today, this number has climbed to over 15 millions, with new waves of emigrants headed to Canada, Australia and the Arabian Gulf. The fact that the population in Lebanon, according to the latest census, does not exceed 4.8 millions, we get an astonishing 3 to 1 ratio in favor of those living abroad.

Now, it is very clear that the Lebanese “human being” is the relevant factor in this analysis, it is our treasure and our power in the absence of natural resources, agricultural resources or prime materials.

Lebanon is a melting pot where 18 different religions are attempting to blend in. Obviously, many of these groups are rapidly diminishing in population due to emigration. The World Lebanese Cultural Union (WLCU) has been approached recently by many Lebanese “new” minorities aiming to learn more about the WLCU Phenomena. We Lebanese are spread out but we are not dispersed. There is a need to organize the Diaspora and there is a way to do so. During the 1940’s and 1950’s, Lebanese clubs and associations began to unite under one umbrella in Australia, United States and Latin America. This phenomena culminated into the formation of the World Lebanese Cultural Union in 1959 in Mexico city. Since then, the Diaspora has been enjoying a better network and better communications and subsequently the energies of the Diaspora are better synchronized and more dedicated to serve the Lebanese people inside Lebanon and abroad.

The WLCU is structurally composed of two major divisions: The local member organizations and the world body. The local chapters or clubs deal with local issues and organize local events. The world body deal with global issues and orchestrate the way these chapters should interact. Local chapters tend to focus on specific objectives such as social affairs, culture, education, sports, folklore, charity, media and others. On the other hand the world body deals with a wider range of issues such as lobbying to safeguard Lebanon as a nation from foreign aggressions, promoting mutual friendship and understanding between the host countries and Lebanon, preserving the distinguished identity of the Lebanese Diaspora, organizing such Diaspora to make it more effective, participating in worldwide conferences that contributes in curbing emigration and other Diaspora concerns, establishing a mutual cooperation with the Lebanese Government touching on issues such as regaining the Lebanese citizenship and the emigrants right to vote, and finally encouraging joint projects in conjunction with the civil society in Lebanon.

Local activities vary in nature between one country and another, more precisely between one generation and another. The oldest waves of immigrants to Argentina, Chile and Uruguay struggle to preserve the Lebanese identity in the hearts and minds of their children. Folkloric groups are formed among the youth to keep them energized and attached to their roots. Scholarships are distributed traditionally in many world cities, reportedly in Canada, USA, Australia, Bolivia and others…Charitable activities, oriented to help the elderly in Lebanon are reported in Los Angeles, California. Lebanese patriotic events are commemorated in almost 23 countries most of them constitute first and second generations among others. As for lobbying for Lebanon, it is mostly conducted by groups of Lebanese academics and professionals in Washington DC and New York. As far as the rest of the countries, they all get motivated during tragic events occurring in Lebanon. They organize visits to local government officials, hit the airwaves, boost their humanitarian activities and initiate letters to the United Nations, the Vatican and all concerned parties.

Another aspect of the world of emigration is the professional entities whose constituency is Lebanese or professionals of Lebanese descent. Associations dealing in many fields such as medicine, dentistry, law, engineering, and many others which could be affiliated with the World Lebanese Cultural Union. Finally we should not forget the Lebanese clubs within colleges and universities whose membership is formed by Lebanese students, a national treasure that should never be lost or forgotten.