Brain Drain in Lebanon

Brain Drain Brain drain is the emigration of the skilled, educated and professional people to countries where they can be productive and fulfill their potential. Lebanon, a victim of massive brain drain, was colonized by diverse nations and cultures throughout history leaving behind a rich cultural background. Until recently people cherished this background, yet nowadays it is endangered by the sporadic brain drain that is taking place among the adult generation of the country. Adult generations are the core of societies in general. They are the link between the old generation and the young one. Hence, they are the ones responsible to transmit and enrich their culture. According to Kim Ghattas, emigrants are groups aged between 25 and 45, and they are a highly skilled and productive faction (Ghattas). The absence of this faction raises a conflict between old and young generation, because those who are supposed to be the balance between the two are not there. As a consequence, this lack of balance is threatening to the Lebanese culture. Assem Safieddine claims, “We are losing our productive population to developed countries leaving behind the young and elderly” (Safieddine). It is not only economic and scientific productivity that is being lost; it is also a cultural productivity. The old are aware and devoted to their culture, but the young are still unable to comprehend and implement this culture in their everyday lives. While the necessary link to build a cultural balance between the old and new generation in Lebanon is missing, other countries are benefiting from their cultural contribution. Residing abroad, the Lebanese are giving to other cultures more than they are giving to their own. In his article, Assem Safieddine also mentions that “Young Lebanese are deprived of the chance to give back to their own community as they are moving and settling far away”. They are exposed to new cultures and acquiring new ideas and knowledge while abroad, but being constantly far; they are not able to implement these ideas in their own community and culture. In fact, Lebanon is a small country and the number of graduates each year exceeds what the marketplace can support. Rasha Abouzaki says that “there are around 37,000 arts and humanities students in LU”, she also adds that the number of engineers is more than 13,000 (Abouzaki). These students are the numbers in one university and of only two fields. Thus, brain drain is a natural phenomenon. However, the rate of graduate emigrants is increasing every year. They are taking with them all what they acquired whether academically or culturally. Hence, it is important that these groups find ways to contribute to their culture and invest their knowledge to maintain a cultural balance in their home country. The country cannot dispense emigration, but at the same time it cannot afford to promote it at the expense of culture. As they are an essential link between generations, adults should build bridges between their hosting countries and their home country to enrich their community and maintain cultural balance. In conclusion, the Lebanese emigrants are investing their skills in foreign countries, while their own country is in desperate need of them. Adults are the pillars on which culture depends to develop and evolve. They enrich and transfer it to the younger generation. Their overall absence from the country endangers the Lebanese culture and the coming generations.
Works Cited
Ghattas, Kim. "Lebanon 's Brain Drain Alarm." Dailystar 22 Feb. 2007. Web. 1 July 2013.
Abouzaki, Rasha. "A Braindead Country called Lebanon." Al-Akhbar 26 June 2012. Web. 23 June 2013.
Safieddine, Assem. "Brain Drain or Brain Gain? A Lebanese Perspective." Dailystar 23 Feb. 2004. Web. 26 June 2013.

Cited: Ghattas, Kim. "Lebanon 's Brain Drain Alarm." Dailystar 22 Feb. 2007. Web. 1 July 2013. Abouzaki, Rasha. "A Braindead Country called Lebanon." Al-Akhbar 26 June 2012. Web. 23 June 2013. Safieddine, Assem. "Brain Drain or Brain Gain? A Lebanese Perspective." Dailystar 23 Feb. 2004. Web. 26 June 2013.