The Beirut Banyan

0:00 Intro 3:25 List formation 14:55 Political failures 27:33 Building blocks 42:25 The problem persists 49:20 Hezbollah is preserved 1:15:25 Taef 1:32:23 Citizens in a State We're with Charbel Nahas for Episode 307 of The Beirut Banyan. Click to watch: https://youtu.be/qN_7g5A7tFw We discuss difficulties surrounding the list formation process, structural failures that have kept Lebanon's politics...

0:00 Intro 0:25 This round 8:45 Core issue 13:51 Policy 31:10 No tolerance 42:01 Expectation 48:49 Kataeb today 55:36 Post-May 1:00:42 Baabda We're with Nadim Gemayel for Episode 306 of The Beirut Banyan. Click to watch: https://youtu.be/lEC-skcbHGs We discuss upcoming parliamentary elections, what makes this round different than previous years, and the core obstacles preventing reform. Our conver...

0:00 Intro 0:42 Relationship to Li Haqqi 5:55 Design 10:52 Burden 18:17 Tentative alliance 30:46 Reform 39:48 Violent component 45:32 Kataeb & October 17 56:18 Regret 58:06 Decentralization 1:03:49 Resignation 1:14:54 This road We're with Maher Abou Chackra for Episode 305 of The Beirut Banyan. Click to watch: https://youtu.be/GdtY8msFqSc We discuss the founding of Li Haqqi and his personal journe...

0:00 Intro 1:00 Day-to-day 13:51 No candidate 19:11 Division 25:02 Kataeb 33:49 Secularism 56:36 Hezbollah 1:19:35 Women-led 1:30:33 Personal reasons We're with Jana Massoud and Ghiya El Assaad for Episode 304 of The Beirut Banyan. Click to watch: https://youtu.be/M0C8Jweks0w We discuss their day-to-day workings within Minteshreen, and whether the meaning of what began on October 17, 2019 shifted...

0:00 Intro 1:44 Personal journey 11:19 Buildup to 1975 20:01 Disarmament of the last militia 25:40 Third component 35:54 Tarek Bitar 40:57 Local issues 50:19 Inertia 57:32 The end 1:03:24 All three We're with Elias Hankach for Episode 302 of The Beirut Banyan. Click to watch: https://youtu.be/5WU2JD1C_jA We discuss his personal journey into politics, memories of the civil war and Syrian occupation...

0:00 Intro 0:25 Anti-system 12:20 Fundamental circumstances 25:37 Reformers 37:16 Victory 40:05 Memories of my father We're with Neemat Frem for Episode 302 of The Beirut Banyan. Video: https://youtu.be/g4QBDb6opLc We discuss his earlier career as an MP affiliated with the Free Patriotic movement, his resignation from the bloc and later from parliament following the Beirut port blast, and his beli...

0:00 Intro 1:27 Narrative problem 11:44 Selling the message 20:35 Focus on sectarianism 29:08 Parliament 40:21 Persuade 48:52 Glory years We're with Naji Abou-Khalil for Episode 301 of The Beirut Banyan. Click to watch: https://youtu.be/faiQxgczKtA We discuss the National Bloc's evolution from pre-independence years until today, and reflect on overdue reform measures. Our conversation includes fra...

0:00 Intro 0:15 Iran 8:18 Sunni void 16:58 Elections Click to watch: https://youtu.be/ZV5VP61pcm8 I share a few ideas on how civil society can better deliver policy points on relations with Iran, the 'Sunni void' and sectarianism, and expectations from parliamentary elections. Help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut Or donating through our Patreo...

0:00 Intro 0:17 Parallel 12:15 Lost battle 27:02 Endgame 36:18 Near the end 53:37 Refugees 1:00:05 Russia without Putin We're with Ambassador Ihor Ostash for Episode 299 of The Beirut Banyan. Click to watch: https://youtu.be/gBRk62qvHLY We discuss Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine, Putin's security considerations and endgame in Kiev, and parallels to Lebanon's place under Syrian occupation and...

0:00 Intro 5:53 Delivering the message 9:42 Layered & complicated 15:25 Sovereignty 30:53 Ethno-geography 48:03 Birth & death 1:12:25 Ten principles 1:12:40 (1) National Narratives 1:17:50 (2) Self-government 1:17:59 (3) Subsidiarity & Localism 1:19:38 (4) Solidarity 1:25:32 (5) Cantonal Sovereignty 1:36:21 (6 & 7) Structure & Government 1:46:27 (8) Direct Democracy 1:54:46 (9 & 10) Roadmap & Impl...

0:00 Intro 2:53 From science to politics 12:59 Ideological shift 38:24 Immediate post-civil war era 51:14 Falling out with the Lebanese Forces 57:00 March 14, 2005 1:07:13 Seventeen years 1:22:15 Local decisions 1:31:37 External powers We're with Toufic Hindi for Episode 297 of The Beirut Banyan. Click to watch: https://youtu.be/zMsnTnb244I We discuss his varied career in Lebanese politics, radica...

My appearance on The Happy Hour podcast, hosted by Ramzi Abou Ismail. 0:00 Does story telling shape or reflect public opinion? 3:47 Remembering Martyr Mohammad Chatah: Will justice be achieved? 23:11 Lebanon and sovereignty: A long history of battles. 31:26 Is Hezballah a “security provider” for part of the Lebanese society? 42:15 Are groups trying to dominate each other in Lebanon by seeking fore...

In memory of Lokman Slim 17 July 1962 - 4 February 2021 Click to watch: https://youtu.be/64ib_xV6kIA A special thank you to Monika Borgmann (filmmaker, director of UMAM Research & Documentation & Lokman's wife); Rasha al Ameer (author, publisher of Dar al Jadeed & Lokman's sister); & Salma Merchak (editor, publisher & Lokman's mother). Zero Fear. Arabic translation & subtitles by Yousra El Baba. M...

0:00 Intro 2:09 So Far 9:04 Two Sides of the Story 15:56 Beyond Control 30:27 Independent 42:46 Maneuvering Space 50:57 2018 56:59 2022 1:04:36 Decentralization 1:10:18 32 Years We're with Ziyad Baroud for Episode 295 of The Beirut Banyan. Click to watch: https://youtu.be/S2eZy-1vEMg We discuss his illustrious career in civil society (from working and serving as secretary general of LADE to positi...

0:00 Intro 4:12 Transition 9:08 Today 14:47 Fluctuation 18:55 IMF Deal 27:15 What happens? 30:47 Mistakes 37:11 Looking Back 45:54 Rentier Economy 50:36 Haircut 54:45 Capital Controls 55:45 State Assets 1:02:31 Price We're with Kabalan Farah for Episode 294 of The Beirut Banyan. Click to watch: https://youtu.be/PFQWLa3iPOs We discuss Kabalan's transition from navigating the financial markets to re...

Click to watch: https://youtu.be/y3KzP0npJo4 In memory of Mohamad Bahaa Chatah 7 March 1951 - 27 December 2013 Music by Marc Codsi.

0:00 Intro 3:51 Spotlight 16:03 Teenagers 23:53 Civil war 40:03 Inclination 46:19 IMF 55:17 Return 1:01:11 Diplomacy 1:17:58 Eight years We're with my mom, Nina Chatah, for Episode 292 of The Beirut Banyan. Click to watch: https://youtu.be/3oNV3wgJO9U We share memories of my father, Mohamad Chatah. We discuss my parents' relationship growing up in pre-civil war Lebanon, their move to the United St...

0:00 Intro 3:27 Meaning 9:22 Divide 28:36 Something wrong 46:56 Aspiration 1:00:33 Now We're with Asma Andraos for Episode 291 of The Beirut Banyan. Click to watch: https://youtu.be/aRTcMDErOPw We discuss all that was March 14, 2005. From its buildup in the weeks leading up to that date, the momentum on the street vs the political decisions made, and the movement that withered as political violenc...

0:00 Intro 1:30 Drive to register 18:51 Future of this country 42:38 Entrepreneurs We're with Dana Hourany for Episode 290 of The Beirut Banyan. Click to watch: https://youtu.be/WbtraNrDDpc We discuss her recent NOWLebanon pieces covering opposition-led politics and last week's lawyers syndicate election defeat for October 17 parties, impressions following the diaspora voter registration campaign,...

I discuss October 17's setback and defeat in last weekend's lawyer syndicate elections, our recent independence day's passing and why political & militant actors in Lebanon are behaving as they do. Click to watch: https://youtu.be/Jr-FamUfG00 Help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut Or donating through our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/the...

0:00 Intro 1:35 Transition 24:38 Regime 44:20 March 14 1:11:42 Investigation 1:19:06 October 17 We're with Jad Ghosn for Episode 288 of The Beirut Banyan. Click to watch: https://youtu.be/xXykuFazJa0 We discuss his journalism career and transition from mainstream media to independent podcasting, and the common criticism both of us face when recording episodes with 'regime' figures. Our conversatio...

Click to watch: https://youtu.be/04xqYUAgxmM In Ep.287 I narrate my latest piece for NOWLebanon, 'Agency. Not Surrender'. To read the full article: https://nowlebanon.com/agency-not-surrender/

I discuss the driving force - both the good and the bad - behind running for next year's parliamentary elections, in hopes that pushing for reform remains an ultimate priority, regardless of whether the opposition wins or loses against traditional parties. Click to watch: https://youtu.be/VCwMqgjufFk Help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut Or don...

I discuss the wider issue of consensus and how it has shaped modern Lebanese political history. I also reflect on the 1960s and why that decade is an anomaly when it comes to state building, neutrality and sovereignty. Help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut Or donating through our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan Subscribe t...

I discuss the need for diaspora citizens to register to vote for next year’s parliamentary elections and I outline the process step by step. To register, click on the following link: https://diasporavote.mfa.gov.lb And follow the steps noted in the episode. Contact Kulluna Irada's call center for further information needed: Worldwide: +96176907686 (WhatsApp) North America Hotline: +16478466388 To...