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Abstract
In this paper, we investigate the behavioral and socio-demographic profile of individuals attending the 1992 Karmeh arts festival, and explore the perceived impact of the festival on promoting harmony between Muslims and Christians as an alternative to traditional political mechanisms for facilitating peace. The methodology used was intended to be widely applicable for studies of short- term events among Muslims and Christians in the country of Lebanon. Data were collected via personal contacts with a random sample of subjects at the only pedestrian crossing point into the festival. Subjects were identified as either a Muslim or a Christian through their names. A total of 213 subjects were interviewed with 143 (67%) completing follow-up interviews one month after the festival, resulting in a sampling error of plus or minus 8 percent. The attendees' characteristics and their behavioral patterns were determined. Christians and Muslims were found to have similar behavioral patterns. The only statistically significant differences between the two groups were in relation to attending the festival with children, buying jewelry, and listening to the singer Tony. A discussion on special events as a force for peace was presented.
Parent Publication
Citation
Chaar, Houssam; Graefe, Alan. 1998. Behavioral patterns of Muslims and Christians at the 1992 Karmeh festival: the case of Lebanon. In: Vogelsong, Hans G., comp, ed. Proceedings of the 1997 Northeastern Recreation Research Symposium; 1997 April 6 - 9; Bolton Landing, NY. Gen. Tech. Rep. NE-241. Radnor, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station. 178-181.
