Landscape of War: Ecologies of Resistance and Survival in South Lebanon

by Munira Khayyat

What worlds take root in war? In this book, anthropologist Munira Khayyat describes life along the southern border of Lebanon, where resistant ecologies thrive amid a terrain of perennial war. A Landscape of War takes us to frontline villages where armed invasions, indiscriminate bombings, and scattered land mines have become the environment where everyday life is waged. This book dwells with multispecies partnerships such as tobacco farming and goatherding that carry life through seasons of destruction. Neither green-tinged utopia nor total devastation, these ecologies make life possible in an insistently deadly region. Sourcing an anthropology of war from where it is lived, this book decolonizes distant theories of war and brings to light creative practices forged in the midst of ongoing devastation. In lyrical prose that resonates with imperiled conditions across the Global South, Khayyat paints a portrait of war as a place where life must go on.

Genres: Lebanon, Nonfiction, Politics, Anthropology, History, Environment

285 pages, Paperback

Published November 22, 2022

Reviews

[jessica]

really interesting to read about south lebanon and hezbollah, i’ve known so little about the whole country prior to the past 2 weeks. i am grateful for the opportunity to learn more about the people and their lives and connection to the (dangerous and life giving) land and especially their successful resistance to israeli occupation

[Jimmy J. Crantz · Rating 1 out of 5]

I approached this book with high expectations: a compelling cover, an intriguing theme, and a fascinating setting. However, I must admit that I found it challenging to fully engage with the text. Khayyat’s writing is sometimes described as poetic, but for me, this was overshadowed by a polarized presentation of the subject matter. At times, the frequent mentions of “Israel” seemed to outweigh references to “Lebanon,” which is ostensibly the book’s central focus.

One of my professors, while talking about this book, said that a skilled ethnographer can present perspectives far removed from their own while still preserving the essence of what is being said. While there may be some merit to this, I couldn’t help but feel that the author’s analysis in this book lacked the nuance demonstrated by her interviewees. In anthropology, much is said about the risks of “going native,” but this work made me reflect on the challenges of being “already native” and how that might shape the framing of a study.

[Marina Mahfoud · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a good read and the author is undeniably talented. I loved how she depicted the relationship of the people in border villages with the land and their suffering the state/capitalism and israel. My only issue concerns jehad and how she justified his actions/words/opinion whatever. Collaboration and the ideas that glorify Israel are not a matter of opinion, nor are they justifiable, and they should never be presented as such.

[cooldude · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book. Khayyat is a beautiful and insightful writer and she genuinely transported me into the backyards of these people. I appreciated reading about war from someone who lives in the midst of it and still sees the beauty of life working in tandem with it. This was fantastic.

[Bobbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was beautiful. It was poetic and informative. The author really brought into perspective the everyday life of the people living in the borderland. Its a beautiful ethnography of someone who shares the culture and language of the participants. It’s so insightful and reflective.

[Lillie Honeycutt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Khayyat is a brilliant writer. The parallels between ecologies of resistance and the people in South Lebanon were very informative to read about. 10/10 recommend

[Hiba · Rating 5 out of 5]

Landscape of War is a precise and deeply reflective examination of how war seeps into everyday life, reshaping space, language, and memory in southern Lebanon. Khayyat moves beyond clear lines of right and wrong, allowing the moral gray of war to surface while offering an intimate glimpse into how people live, wait, and endure within it. A rigorous, quietly powerful book that reframes war beyond battles and headlines.