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A number of leftist groups held
two meetings to examine the possibility of their merger and the creation of
what they described as a “new and democratic leftist socio-political force.”
The Forces of Reform and Democracy, a splinter group of the Lebanese
Communist Party (LCP) headed by expelled politburo members Elias Atallah and
Ziad Saab; Communist Students, another group of expelled young LCP members;
and independent student groups such as the American University of Beirut’s
No Frontiers, the Lebanese American University’s Pablo Neruda, the Direct
Line and the Leftist Alternative groups, have been debating the viability of
establishing a new
leftist party.
The second meeting saw an extensive debate that focused on two main items,
namely, the identity of the new group
and its structure. Saab recounted the nation’s “leftist experience” saying
that the “official left” did not represent leftist activists. He argued that
the failure of political parties has distanced most people from political
activism.
For his part, Atallah reiterated Saab’s argument by saying it was imperative
for activists to highlight their “collective activity” as opposed to the
“individual leadership” that prevails in the country.
The assembly debated, in depth, the importance of minimizing centralization
or rather monopoly of the decision-making process in the new group in favor
of allowing more democratic differences in opinion.
The leftists were divided over the degree of autonomy that these different
factions should retain once the
new group is established.
Mark Daou, a member of No Frontiers, voiced fear that a party might limit
his group’s activism. “We should be realistic and make sure that our
ambition matches our resources,” Daou told The Daily Star. He said that
creating a party was a premature
step that should be preceded by establishing a movement.
According to Daou, the activists came from different leftist backgrounds,
including communists, anarchists, socialists and sociodemocrats.
But despite the minor differences over the creation of a movement or a
party, its identity and structure, the activists appeared to agree that the
two meetings were unique.
“It’s the first time in a decade that we sense this kind of commitment. More
than 45 people, of different ages and seniority, looked determined this time
to create a new leftist democratic group,” said Daou.
Another participant, said the meetings were one of the few sessions where
senior leftists, such as Saab and
Atallah, attended without grabbing all the attention.
“It’s pretty democratic to see university students imposing their rules on
senior activists, demanding that they take the floor to talk without
lecturing indefinitely,” the activist said.
Even though observers perceive the new group as a consequence of the
incompetence of the LCP, proponents
of the group deny such accusations, saying that sooner or later, the
Lebanese left would have either renewed its platform and rhetoric, or
invented a new leftist party.
Zuheir Ibrahim, a political analyst, argued that the appearance of new
groups, “ostensibly reflects the failure of already established ones.” He
maintained that despite the relatively large number of political parties in
the country (estimates suggest more than 120), none of them has been capable
of offering what political life desperately needed in Lebanon: “platforms.”
Ibrahim said that another factor contributed to undermining these parties’
efficiency:
“The tribal, patriarchal and sectarian behavior of the population have made
all parties followers of a single figurehead, at best, a leader of a sect or
a prominent politician.”
He argued that the already-established parties run “theatrical elections,
where the term of their presidents and politburos are renewed indefinitely.”
Even among less prominent parties, “the practice of democracy is rare.
Usually the founder, his brothers or sons act as the owners of the group
despite their claims of embracing democracy.”
He added that every Lebanese party resembled a cult, or rather a sect.
Assessing the new leftist group, Ibrahim said that it could capitalize on
the secular nature of its members.
“This should free them from following dominant sectarian figures here,” he
said.
But Ibrahim voiced skepticism over the possibility of seeing a breakthrough
in the activities of political parties anytime soon.
“Even new secular parties are often romantic, and gain their experience from
books rather than from real life.”
Responded Daou: “This time we are determined to benefit from our experience
in sociopolitical activity and organize ourselves in a way to avoid past
mistakes.” |
