What Did We Have the Civil War for?

By Ghassan Karam
Civil conflicts are not exactly uncommon in this world. There is hardly a nation state that has not had to overcome a major civil conflict as it was becoming established. In a sense, it appears that civil strife is a right of passage of some sort.

Expats, Immigrants, Descendants, Sectarianism And The Vote

By Ghassan Karam
It is very rare to witness as much confusion, and attention paid to the superficial as has characterized the dialogue regarding who is to be given the right to vote in Lebanese elections.

Sectarianism, Municipal Elections And The Voting Age

By Ghassan Karam
It is paradoxical when the response to an effort to eliminate sectarianism is voiced in sectarian terms.

Minister Harb calls for the abolishment of sectarian politics

Labor Minister Boutros Harb told the Voice of Lebanon radio station on Thursday that he requested President Michel Sleiman and Prime Minister Saad Hariri to launch a dialogue with Speaker Nabih Berri on his call to form a committee to eliminate political sectarianism. He said that such a discussion would help avoid domestic division.

As-Safir newspaper also reported on Thursday that Harb asked Berri before Wednesday’s cabinet session “to withdraw his proposal to forming a committee to abolish political sectarianism, because it is a contentious issue.”

Aoude: Sectarianism is being used by sectarian leaders to serve their personal interests

Commenting on Speaker Berri’s call for formation of a committee to abolish political sectarianism in Lebanon Greek Orthodox Bishop Elias Aoude said during his Christmas sermon mass in Saint George’s Cathedralon “Sectarianism is being used by sectarian leaders to serve their personal interests.”
He added that Lebanon is in dire need to abolish the political exploitation of sectarianism and should be raising the new generation that believes in serving their country instead of exploiting it.

Political Sectarianism Revisited

By Ghassan Karam
Those who persist in critisizing Speaker Berri and President Suleiman for their plan to implement the Taef accords ought to be reminded of the saying:

Elimination of Sectarianism: If Not Now, When?

By Ghassan Karam
The current Lebanese political structure is built on two irrational and undemocratic principles: (1) rigid political sectarianism and (2) equal distribution of parliamentary seats.

Suleiman calls for abolishing political sectarianism in Lebanon

President Michel Suleiman addressed the nation on the eve of Lebanon’s 66th anniversary of independence saying: “To encourage vast participation in political life, a national committee should be established and charged with abolishing political sectarianism.”