How did the Lebanese, traditionally so defined by their religious and sectarian allegiances, respond to the rise of Arab nationalism in the 1930s and 1940s? This book examines the interaction between Lebanese local sentiments and 'Arabism' between 1936-1945, a period characterised by significant changes at the international, Arab and Lebanese levels. It highlights the developments which helped to shift Lebanon towards Arabism, moving the country away from a sceptical attitude towards active engagement in founding the Arab regional system in the mid-forties. The book also focuses on the internal changes which led to the inclusion of the Arab nationalists of Lebanon in the political process which culminated in the so called Lebanese National Pact and the independence of the country in 1943. It provides numerous insights for students of Arab and Lebanese politics, regional integration and constitutional democracy. The book is based on a variety of sources including archival material from Britain, France and the USA, private papers, published material and private interviews with leaders from different parts of the Arab world.