Subsequent to the Center's work on the elections (see above 1992 Elections book), and its commitment to the process of democratization, the LCPS has undertaken another comprehensive study on the 1996 legislative elections. A team of seventeen researchers conducted a large-scale study on the 1996 election.

The study was published in a book entitled: Legislative Elections 1996: The Crisis of Democracy. It is divided into two main sections. The first section provides a detailed analyses of the electoral process and results in the five electoral regions: southern Mount Lebanon, northern Mount Lebanon, the North, the Biqa', the South and Beirut. This section is followed by an examination of electoral infractions and fraud, and an assessment of the political significance of the elections in general.

The second section considers the social changes in the framework of the parliamentary elections. It includes chapters on the performance of the outgoing 1992-1996 parliament, the new elites that emerged after the 1996 elections, the role of the Constitution Council in striking down the first draft of the 1996 election law and in overturning the results in four parliamentary elections. The second section also includes chapters on the role of political parties in the process, an analysis of voter opinion and behavior, and the role of women as voters and candidates in the process.

This book also includes a section encompassing maps, graphs, and tables, complete results of the elections, information about the new deputies, chronology of the elections, and legal and administrative documents concerning the elections. The book also includes summaries in English. The researchers presented their findings in a one-day conference.

The project is funded by the Ford Foundation.