Journal article
The passage of tobacco control law 174 in Lebanon: reflections on the problem, policies and politics
Health policy and planning, Vol.33(5), pp.633-644
06/01/2018
DOI: 10.1093/heapol/czy023
PMID: 29635414
Abstract
Progress in tobacco control policy making has occurred worldwide through advocacy campaigns involving multiple players- civil society groups, activists, academics, media and policymakers. The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC)-the first ever global health treaty-outlines evidence-based tobacco control policies. Lebanon ratified the FCTC in 2005, but until 2011, tobacco control policies remained rudimentary and not evidence-based. Beginning in 2009, a concerted advocacy campaign was undertaken by a variety of stakeholders with the aim of accelerating the process of adopting a strong tobacco control policy. The campaign was successful, and Law 174 passed the Lebanese Parliament in August 2011. In this article, we analyse the policy making process that led to the adoption of Law 174 using Kingdon's model. The analysis relies on primary and secondary data sources including historical records of key governmental decisions, documentation of the activities of the concerted advocacy campaign and in-depth interviews with key stakeholders. We describe the opening of a window of opportunity as a result of the alignment of the problem, policy and politics streams. Furthermore, findings revealed that despite the challenge of persistent tobacco industry interference and established power relations between the industry, its allies and policymakers; policy entrepreneurs succeeded in supporting the alignment of the streams, and influencing the passage of the law. Kingdon's multiple stream approach was useful in explaining how tobacco control became an emerging policy issue at the front of the policy agenda in Lebanon.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- The passage of tobacco control law 174 in Lebanon: reflections on the problem, policies and politics
- Creators
- R T Nakkash - Department of Health Promotion and Community Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, LebanonL Torossian - Department of Health Promotion and Community Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, LebanonT El Hajj - Watipa, CIC, London, UKJ Khalil - Department of Health Promotion and Community Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, LebanonR A Afifi - Department of Health Promotion and Community Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Health policy and planning, Vol.33(5), pp.633-644
- DOI
- 10.1093/heapol/czy023
- PMID
- 29635414
- NLM abbreviation
- Health Policy Plan
- ISSN
- 0268-1080
- eISSN
- 1460-2237
- Grant note
- DOI: 10.13039/501100000193, name: International Development Research Centre
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 06/01/2018
- Academic Unit
- Injury Prevention Research Center; Community and Behavioral Health
- Record Identifier
- 9984214793302771
Metrics
17 Record Views