Qifa Nabki
Reform
The End of Political Confessionalism in Lebanon?
Many thanks to everyone for all of their kind words and well wishes about the new baby: both mother and daughter are doing very well. As noted yesterday, I will not be at the Safadi/POMED event in Washington tomorrow, but you should still plan on going to hear Mona Yacoubian and Jared Cohen speak about … Continue reading
Abolishing Confessionalism in Lebanon: A Poll By Information International
Information International, the polling and research firm that publishes The Monthly, one of my favorite publications about Lebanese politics and economics, released the results of an interesting survey in January on the subject of abolishing confessionalism in Lebanon. I was traveling at the time and never had a chance to blog about it, but I’ve … Continue reading
Electoral Systems and Lebanon
A friend of mine recently drew my attention to the fact that the ministerial statement (al-bayan al-wizari) of Saad al-Hariri’s government contains a surprising clause: a commitment to begin developing a new electoral law for the 2013 parliamentary elections within the next eighteen months (see article no. 20) It’s not clear to me how binding … Continue reading
Confessionalism or Cronyism?
How much of the current fight about administrative appointments is about sectarian politics, and how much of it is just about politics? When one hears reports about how so-and-so is demanding that such-and-such position is given to this or that sect, it’s tempting to get up on the soapbox and proclaim that confessionalism is rearing … Continue reading
Picking on Berri
The only issue of real import in Lebanon these days — as far as political reform is concerned — is Nabih Berri’s controversial call to establish a committee to explore the ways and means to abolish political sectarianism. Yes, you heard me right. Berri has called a meeting. A brown bag lunch. A coffee hour. And everybody … Continue reading
Qifa Nabki 
And the people say…