How Has the August 4 Explosion and its Aftermath Affected the Revolution?

 
The massive port explosion that rocked Beirut on August 4th which resulted from the unsafe storage of ammonium nitrate in Beirut’s port was the largest non-nuclear explosion in the 21st century. It killed over two hundred people, injured over six thousand, displaced over 300,000 inhabitants and caused damages estimated to be in the billions of dollars. August 4 instantaneously created new social, economic, and political realities for people in Lebanon. The country had already been in an open revolt against the ruling elite since October 17 for a myriad of chiefly economic and political grievances—many of which were epitomized by the occurrence of the Beirut blast itself and the ruling class’s response (or lack thereof) to the port explosion. The explosion reignited protests, albeit momentarily. A large demonstration on August 8th was met with reportedly the most violent response from security forces since the uprising began. This was followed by the resignation of Hassan Diab’s government.
 
On October 17, 2020, LCPS launched the first of a series of pieces asking social scientists with leading or active roles in the uprising to take stock of the October revolution and the path forward. We asked all contributors the same questions, which center around the top accomplishments, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the August 4 explosion on mobilization, as well as challenges and opportunities ahead. Their answers to�