RN Chairman Chibli Mallat in a recent Global Post interview with Lauren Maddow discussed the rise of extremism in wake of the Middle East revolutions noting the particular importance of Syria in determining outcomes across the region. He highlighted the difficulty of mandating tolerance constitutionally, stressing two essential paths to success in the ongoing revolutions — judicial accountability, and truth and justice (rather than reconciliation) processes – that face challenges including lack of legal leadership and expertise. Mallat also participated in a panel discussion on the value of constitutions in a democracy with Judge Albie Sachs, one of the architects of South Africa’s new constitution, and author and columnist Simon Jenkins, for BBC Radio 3-Night Waves initially broadcast 21 March 2013 and moderated by Ann McElvoy.
Head of the National Bloc ‘Amid’ Carlos Eddé in a recent interview with The Daily Star elaborated on his vision for electoral reform noting that “there is no place for moderates” in Lebanon. A staunch supporter of single-member parliamentary districts in the tradition of his uncle Raymond Eddé, longtime MP from Jbeil and former head of the National Bloc, Eddé recently announced a competition to encourage grassroots political activism offering prizes totaling $100,000 for the best single-districting plan for Lebanon.
In other news, prominent Syrian intellectual Sadek Jalal al-Azm was honored by the Mahmoud Darwish Foundation with the Freedom and Creativity Award for 2013.
Mallat: Q & A: How a failed revolution opened the door for Middle East extremists, The Global Post, 22 March 2013, Lauren Maddow.
BBC Radio 3 – Night Waves, 21 March 2013 (minutes 0:00-13:00).
Edde: No Place for moderates in Lebanon, The Daily Star, 21 March, 2013, Jana El Hassan.
Sadek Jalal al-Azm receives Mahmoud Darwish Freedom and Creativity Award, Right to Nonviolence, 17 March 2013
Edde offers $100,000 for best single-districting plan, The Daily Star, 23 February 2013.
