The Beirut Banyan

0:00 Intro

2:46 Explosions in Beirut

11:06 Back to the Beginning

21:50 Expectations

38:09 Hesitation?

1:00:11 Disappointment

1:09:27 Incentive

1:19:35 A Long Time

1:24:43 The Lesser Known

1:33:04 Personal Loss

1:40:25 Memories of my Father

We're with Olga Kavran for Episode 198 of The Beirut Banyan.

Click to watch:

https://youtu.be/Z9EqQInrBtM

We address the explosions that shattered Beirut's port, nearby neighborhoods and large swathes of the city. Our conversation addresses accountability, international criminal law, justice and the upcoming judgement this Friday of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.

Olga Kavran was generous with her time in the immediate aftermath of the explosions. She is the Head of Outreach and Legacy at the Special Tribunal for Lebanon. In this episode she is not speaking on behalf of The Tribunal.

Lebanon needs your help. Please consider a donation to:

The Lebanese Red Cross:

https://www.supportlrc.app/donate/

or any of the local Lebanese NGOs listed on the following link:

https://lebanoncrisis.carrd.co/#donate

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

Watch these episodes via our YouTube channel:

www.youtube.com/c/thebeirutbanyan

Subscribe to our podcast from your preferred platform.

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@thebeirutbanyan

And check out our website:

www.beirutbanyan.com

Music by Marc Codsi. Graphics by Sara Tarhini.

0:00 Intro

1:30 Catching up with Carmen

7:42 Day to Day Life in Beirut

19:20 Cancer

23:39 Neoliberal Capitalism

25:23 Structural Racism

29:20 Politics of Fear

33:47 Day by Day Mode

40:26 IMF Negotiations

47:36 Confessional Power Sharing

59:28 Lecturing in time of Covid

We're back with Carmen Geha for Episode 197 of The Beirut Banyan.

We discuss her recent 'The New Arab' pieces tackling the Lebanese government's handling of the Covid-19 pandemic and wider issues that link the pandemic to rampant corruption and the ongoing economic crisis.

Carmen reflects on her personal 'politics of hope' and overcoming political fear. We talk about a potential silver lining in failed IMF negotiations and how issues of structural racism tie in to a dysfunctional state's inability to implement laws that protect vulnerable groups including domestic workers.

Carmen Geha is an Associate Professor with Tenure at the American University of Beirut.

The pieces referred to in this episode are accessible below:

Corruption, not coronavirus, is ravaging Lebanon:

https://english.alaraby.co.uk/english/comment/2020/4/30/corruption-not-coronavirus-is-ravaging-lebanon

Beirut under quarantine: Why decades of unshackled neoliberalism left Lebanon in extreme danger from coronavirus:

Beirut under quarantine: Why decades of unshackled neoliberalism left Lebanon in extreme danger from coronavirus

https://medium.com/@levantophile/on-the-arab-identity-and-its-discontents-a-personal-reflection-and-a-survey-of-christian-163ed3bafd72

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

Watch these episodes via our YouTube channel:

www.youtube.com/c/thebeirutbanyan

Subscribe to our podcast from your preferred platform.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter:

@thebeirutbanyan

And check out our website:

www.beirutbanyan.com

Music by Marc Codsi. Graphics by Sara Tarhini.

0:00 Intro

1:50 Day to Day Routine

6:54 Personal Evolution

24:38 The Wider Story

39:00 'Uniqueness'

54:45 Political Reform

1:00:54 Localism

Click to watch:

https://youtu.be/XNfcJ-Db5mk

We're with Tamer Aboul-Hosn for Episode 196 of The Beirut Banyan.

We discuss his recent Medium piece "On the Arab Identity and Its Discontents: A Personal Reflection and a Survey of Christian Perspectives" and dive into the wider story of political autonomy, pluralism and competing narratives that helped shape Lebanon's minorities relationship to the state, in particular the Maronite Christian experience.

Tamer shares his own political evolution and the literature that helped shape his views on Arab nationalism and Lebanese nationalism, and an appreciation for non-Arab languages and communities in the Middle East. He also reflects on his personal curiosity of other minorities' insecurities, and his belief in localism and local expression as opposed to centralized governance and pan-Arab persuasion.

Tamer Aboul-Hosn is an International Studies graduate at UC San Diego.

The piece referred to in this episode is accessible below:

https://medium.com/@levantophile/on-the-arab-identity-and-its-discontents-a-personal-reflection-and-a-survey-of-christian-163ed3bafd72

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

Watch these episodes via our YouTube channel:

www.youtube.com/c/thebeirutbanyan

Subscribe to our podcast from your preferred platform.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter:

@thebeirutbanyan

And check out our website:

www.beirutbanyan.com

Music by Marc Codsi. Graphics by Sara Tarhini.

2:00 Day to Day Life in Beirut

8:24 Back to 2005

10:20 Taef Accord

46:08 The Banking Sector

1:03:56 The Middle Class

1:16:53 Civil War Legacy

1:25:32 Freedom of Expression

1:34:01 Army & Internal Security

1:42:33 Light at the End of the Tunnel

Click to watch:

https://youtu.be/1Cq-ftnQyLA

We're with Maha Yahya for Episode 195 of The Beirut Banyan.

We discuss her recent piece "All Fall Down" that appeared in Carnegie Middle East's Diwan blog and expand on five pillars that sustained post civil war Lebanon.

We reflect on the impact of protests and recurring assassinations from 2005 onwards that contribute to today's events; the civil war's legacy; and recurrent obstacles preventing needed reform. We also share a mutual appreciation for Samir Kassir and reflect on my father's final years.

Maha Yahya is Director of the Carnegie Middle East Center.

The piece referred to in this episode is accessible below:

https://carnegie-mec.org/diwan/82348

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

Watch these episodes via our YouTube channel:

www.youtube.com/c/thebeirutbanyan

Subscribe to our podcast from your preferred platform.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter:

@thebeirutbanyan

And check out our website:

www.beirutbanyan.com

Music by Marc Codsi. Graphics by Sara Tarhini.

0:00 Intro

3:17 Memories & Music

24:41 Competing Narratives

32:22 'Lebanonism'

40:00 Arab Nationalism

47:24 Palestine and The Civil War

57:28 Singing the 20th Century

Click to watch:

https://youtu.be/AEtfmjqu1i4

We're back with Deeba Shadnia for Episode 194 of The Beirut Banyan.

We discuss a range of topics that include nostalgia and nationalism, identity and the arts, and how Fairuz' music fits into the backdrop of all that is modern Lebanon. Our conversation includes notions of 'Lebanonism' and Arab nationalism; competing nationalisms that took Lebanon to brief civil war in 1958 and later from 1975-1989. We also talk about Fairuz's ability to attract of multitude of aspirations that are often at odds with one another, and why her music truly resonates beyond Lebanon's borders. We also discuss 20th century ideas that came and went, and how Fairuz's catalogue covers all the complexities of Lebanon.

Deeba Shadnia is a graduate of King's College London and wrote her Master's thesis on Fairuz's cultural expression and the tension between Lebanese and Arab nationalism.

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

Watch these episodes via our YouTube channel:

www.youtube.com/c/thebeirutbanyan

Subscribe to our podcast from your preferred platform.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter:

@thebeirutbanyan

And check out our website:

www.beirutbanyan.com

Music by Marc Codsi. Graphics by Sara Tarhini.

0:00 Intro

2:25 Life in Beirut

10:48 Learning through Podcasting

17:20 Is consensus-driven governance the core problem?

23:04 Reflections

44:28 The Ultimate Stumbling Block

1:01:42 Freedom of Expression

Click to watch:

https://youtu.be/sDm5PSdUeOc

We're with the Lebanese Politics Podcast for Episode 193 of The Beirut Banyan.

We discuss life today in Beirut; the benefits of getting the wider story across through long-form narrative and podcasting; various reflections on the initial days of the October Uprising and developments today; ultimate stumbling blocks that diminished earlier protest movements and curtailed previous attempts at reform following the end of the civil war; the state of freedom of expression today in Lebanon; and a shared appreciation for the podcasting medium and storytelling in all formats.

The Lebanese Politics Podcast team includes Benjamin Redd, Nizar Hassan and Susan Wilson.

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

Watch these episodes via our YouTube channel:

www.youtube.com/c/thebeirutbanyan

Subscribe to our podcast from your preferred platform.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter:

@thebeirutbanyan

And check out our website:

www.beirutbanyan.com

Music by Marc Codsi. Graphics by Sara Tarhini.

0:00 Intro

2:25 Did resignation serve its purpose?

11:34 More dangerous today than 1975?

17:20 Is consensus-driven governance the core problem?

35:35 Is it too late to reform confessional power-sharing?

52:12 What are the conditions today for an IMF deal?

1:06:45 Will you return to your advisory roles?

1:11:05 Memories of My Father

Click to watch:

https://youtu.be/fYOQI_nN09s

We're with Alain Bifani and Henri Chaoul for Episode 192 of The Beirut Banyan.

We put their recent resignations in perspective and discuss whether it served its intended purpose; we discuss the pre-civil war Lebanese state and how the current economic crisis may be more catastrophic than the breakdown that came following April 1975; we talk about confessional power-sharing by looking at the Lebanese state's functionality before the civil war and post-1989, and whether the root cause of systemic mismanagement today is in essence Lebanon's consociational governance or other issues left unaddressed from the early 1970s; we talk about firm preconditions needed before either Alain or Henri consider a return to their advisory roles vis-a-vis IMF negotiations; and we wrap up with Alain reflecting on his friendship and professional relationship with my father while he served as Minister of Finance from July 2008 to November 2009.

Both Alain and Henri share their optimism for the youth and their pessimism towards the current political class largely unwilling to implement needed reforms.

Alain Bifani is the outgoing Director General of the Ministry of Finance. Henri Chaoul is a board member of Kulluna-Irada.

The two Financial Times articles referenced in this episode are

‘Bankers ‘smuggled’ $6bn out of Lebanon, says ex-finance chief’:

https://www.ft.com/content/df234c78-a945-4199-befe-0272259dc755

‘Lebanon finance ministry’s top civil servant steps down’:

https://www.ft.com/content/d4ec9783-b243-4374-b641-f3b4b3a5a588

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

Watch these episodes via our YouTube channel:

www.youtube.com/c/thebeirutbanyan

Subscribe to our podcast from your preferred platform.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter:

@thebeirutbanyan

And check out our website:

www.beirutbanyan.com

Music by Marc Codsi. Graphics by Sara Tarhini.

0:00 Intro

1:37 How We Met

6:07 Where We Are Today

18:41 Appetite for Change

23:57 Politics as Usual

30:49 Hope

35:38 Special Tribunal for Lebanon

40:51 Secularism & Sectarianism

47:02 Online Tirades

Click to watch:

https://youtu.be/1jBBGEq44-Y

We're with Mazen El-Hassan for Episode 191 of The Beirut Banyan.

We discuss the symbolism of how we met; political developments in recent weeks; whether there remains an appetite for fundamental change; politics as usual vs radical change; hope persisting despite immense economic constraints; the Special Tribunal for Lebanon's upcoming verdict; notions of secularism vs sectarianism; and the benefits and disadvantages of online tirades.

Mazen El-Hassan is a graduate from Kingston University. He is the elder son of Wissam El-Hassan, Lebanon's former Minister of Interior, assassinated on 19 October 2012.

My father and Mazen's are buried side by side in Martyrs Square.

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

Watch these episodes via our YouTube channel:

www.youtube.com/c/thebeirutbanyan

Subscribe to our podcast from your preferred platform.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter:

@thebeirutbanyan

And check out our website:

www.beirutbanyan.com

Music by Marc Codsi. Graphics by Sara Tarhini.

0:00 Intro

1:40 Local Longevity

16:24 Local & Regional Overlap

22:30 Tipping Point

28:46 Caesar Act

38:04 Mystery Attacks

46:40 The Geopolitical Story

Click to watch:

https://youtu.be/_JVqd4C3tzQ

We're with Deeba Shadnia for Episode 190 of The Beirut Banyan.

We discuss the longevity of the Lebanese protest movement; how local aspirations and regional politics overlap; whether Lebanon has crossed a 'tipping point' from crisis to collapse; the immediate and long-term effects of the Caesar Act; the repeated mystery 'incidents' / attacks in Iran; and the wider geopolitical story the region is going through.

Stay tuned for Deeba's return next week where she will discuss music, local vs regional identities and more!

Deeba Shadnia is Middle East & North Africa Analyst at Protection Group International.

The article referenced in this episode is accessible below:

https://encyclopediageopolitica.com/2019/10/28/lebanons-protest-cleaning-up-the-streets/

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

Watch these episodes via our YouTube channel:

www.youtube.com/c/thebeirutbanyan

Subscribe to our podcast from your preferred platform.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter:

@thebeirutbanyan

And check out our website:

www.beirutbanyan.com

Music by Marc Codsi. Graphics by Sara Tarhini.

0:00 Intro

2:45 Telecoms Today

8:55 Field Offices

18:58 Unlocking Bandwidth

23:12 Cryptocurrency

29:20 Bridging the Gap

37:09 Personal Reflection

Click to watch:

https://youtu.be/rc-RjXtaKzY

We're with Georgio Nicolas for Episode 189 of The Beirut Banyan.

We discuss the telecoms sector in Lebanon, and long-term problems associated with reduced bandwidth and slow internet speeds. We also talk about lack of international field offices in Beirut, and inherent obstacles when persuading tech firms to establish a presence in Lebanon.

Georgio shares his research into cryptocurrency, and why it remains a fairly unattractive alternative to local currency in Lebanon and elsewhere. He also addresses insufficient computer science research at Lebanese universities, and adds his own reflections of remote work given electricity and internet constraints.

Georgio Niscolas is a cryptography / security research engineer. Check out his website:

georgio.xyz

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

Watch these episodes via our YouTube channel:

www.youtube.com/c/thebeirutbanyan

Subscribe to our podcast from your preferred platform.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter:

@thebeirutbanyan

And check out our website:

www.beirutbanyan.com

Music by Marc Codsi. Graphics by Sara Tarhini.