Published by Annahar 10-06-2020 | 16:37
What best describes the philosophical underpinnings of the Lebanese Revolution? Is it some traditional ideology akin to Capitalism or Communism? Or perhaps it is some form of re-emerging Nationalism, possibly at odds with unrelenting Globalization. What about age-old dichotomies such as democracy and autocracy, both being challenged by Populism? In this context of utter ideological confusion, it is not hard to see why some analysts have struggled to determine a precise ideology to pin onto the Lebanese Revolution.
But why haven’t any of these traditional ideologies been able to serve the Lebanese Revolution? Some introspection shows that unbridled Capitalism has failed the Lebanese people by leading to endemic corruption and seizure of public goods. Demanding more of it would be nonsensical and unsustainable . It is equally out of the question that a people with such a deeply enterprising history would harken back to Communism, whose train left the station decades ago. As for Globalization, the Lebanese people are arguably among the most far-reaching in the world with a disproportional Diaspora. And yet, the Lebanese identity has held steady and indeed has been growing steadily. While roaming the world, culturally the Lebanese wish to remain proud of their flag, art, cuisine, architecture, music, jokes, and more ... Politically, the Lebanese are among the most democratic in the region, but have paid the price for such openness in a violently autocratic neighborhood. ‘If only we had a dictator to clean things up!’ some like to say. Questionable at best, if one considers that the last three Presidents have all been army generals—all failing to reverse the country’s dwindling fortunes.
So, where does this leave the Revolution’s philosophical foundation? While there are a variety of focus areas among different revolutionary groups, there is one underlying theme that has been unifying everyone: Elevating the Lebanese citizen and their rights above all else in the state. This can be summarized succinctly as Citizenry. Citizenry basically aims to pull everyone together under the aegis of equality and fraternity—unlike Populism, which aims to divide populations along ethnic or religious lines. Also unlike Sectarianism, which typically elevate the leader to cultish proportions, Citizenry raises the ordinary citizen above any other consideration through the equal application of the law. Aiming to lift the Lebanese citizen through Citizenry is perhaps the ideology that best represents the motivation driving the Lebanese Revolution from South to North, East to West.
Citizenry is a philosophy that may not always oppose the traditional ideologies. Rather, it sees them through the prism of how they may or may not help the citizen. As an example, the Revolution has been against corruption and against the corrupt, not against any Lebanese citizen for being a capitalist. The Revolution has been for free enterprise, but against the theft of public or citizen property. It has been for the rule of law but against those who apply justice sporadically for their own benefit. It has been for the freedom of religion, but against using religious sectarianism to usurp power or use it to apply unequal citizenship. It has been for the right of self-defense, but against those who intimidate other fellow citizens with arms. To its credit, while elements of the Revolution have tried to take it in certain undesirably dogmatic directions, in its collective wisdom, the Lebanese Revolution has maintained a consistent line not to exclude anyone and to focus instead on demands that empower citizens to get their rights back. From this perspective, the primary objective of Citizenry is based on assuring ALL the Lebanese of equal rights. Any vision, strategy, or policy contrary to this ideology is considered anathema to the Lebanese Revolution’s ideology.
But if the ideology of the Lebanese Revolution is that of Citizenry, how to demand it and later apply it? Citizenry happens through peaceful, democratic, and legal means by demanding a list of rights that the citizens wish to assert on themselves and those they elect to govern. This list of rights is typically referred to as a Citizen’s Bill of Rights, which is a constitutional tool that fundamentally shifts the balance of power of any nation in favor of the citizen along multiple fronts: Political, economic, social, judicial, and even environmental. A Bill of Rights is generally the primary tool that Citizenry uses to elevate the citizen to a level capable of holding their state accountable. As a tool, it can also provide serious reform helping the state eliminate archaic institutions such as sectarianism, replacing it with equal opportunity and justice.
Detractors of the Lebanese Revolution who represent the traditional parties have been incapable of understanding the Lebanese Revolution’s philosophy of Citizenry because their context and ideas are those of an age of corruption, cynicism, division, and violence—all of which shackle them to an undesirable past, while blinding them of the potential future. The Lebanese Revolution represents an alternative future. Its Citizenry ideology places the Lebanese citizen at the apex of the state, not at its bottom. It can protect and indeed empower the Lebanese citizens to overcome existing challenges while preparing them to face a globalized future. Citizenry provides the Lebanese a framework based on absolute equality and fairness; and a tool such as a Citizen Bill of Rights to effectuate the change. By fortifying its nucleus, the common citizen, Citizenry promises to strengthen Lebanon at a time when all other failed ideologies have been doing nothing less than destroy it.
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