Yemen Elections

On the eve of unified Yemen's first elections: will the regime combine the best of both experiences or return to one-man rule? Education reform faces demands to restore Sharia as the sole source of legislation.

A Collective History for Lebanon

Qantara.de

The solid confessional blocs only emerged in the mid-19th century — before that, leaders were secular, and in 1820, Christians, Druze, Shia, and Sunnis rebelled together against taxes.

Breaking with the “National Consensus” – Towards Lebanese-Palestinian Reconciliation

As-Safir

Translation: "I will have no part of the settlement consensus"—it is a fraud manufactured after Taif for scapegoating. Even granting citizenship to all Palestinians would barely change the confessional balance.

The Woes of Confessionalism

As-Safir

Translation of two columns from as-Safir: Yousif Bey Karam said it in 1867—sectarian division invites external domination. The question: "Do we change the system or the people?"

Lebanon on the Brink

As-Safir

Translation from as-Safir after Gemayel's assassination: sectarian division invites external domination since 1867—and when the Lebanese unite, they do so despite the confessional system and against it.

Calling Things by Their Name

The Hezbollah-FPM alliance is rooted in shared marginalization, and the confessional system is a "regime of obstruction" forcing people to squeeze rights through pinholes—"Do we change the system or the people?"

Lebanon in the Middle East Peace Talks: Player or Bargaining Card?

The Oxford International Review

Lebanon between the Syrian-Israeli "condominium": player in the peace talks or bargaining card? Ghazi Kanaan: "Let the Lebanese trade and leave politics to the Syrians."