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DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Moscow:20081103T080000
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CREATED:20141026T085610Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240314T115248Z
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SUMMARY:James Reardon-Anderson on Rainfall and the American Civil War
DESCRIPTION:On November 3\, 2008\, James Reardon-Anderson\, Dean of the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Qatar\, gave a lecture at CIRS’s Monthly Dialogue Series on the connection between “Rainfall and the American Civil War.” Dean Reardon-Anderson explained to the invited audience that the lecture was inspired by a class he regularly teaches entitled “Map of the Modern World\,” which is a graduation requirement for all students.  \n \n \nDean Reardon-Anderson began his lecture by suggesting that one way of understanding human behavior is by examining the fundamental natural forces – earth tectonics and atmospheric physics – that shape the stage on which history has been and is being performed. This lecture\, which focuses on the geography of North America and the implications for the outbreak of the American Civil War\, is a case study of that phenomenon.  \n \n \nTectonic forces have produced a North American continent with high mountain ranges in the west and a broad flat plain in the middle\, and lodged the center of this continent\, which is home to the United States\, between 30 and 50 degrees north latitude. Atmospheric forces produce extremely dry conditions at 30 degrees north\, the locus of the American Southwest\, and prevailing westerly winds across the rest of the country\, which cause heavy precipitation over the western mountains\, dry conditions on the central plains\, and again wet conditions in the east.  \n \n \nThe mix of weather conditions and the nature of the physical geography in the southeastern United States meant that the land was arable and conducive to the cultivation of cash crops\, especially tobacco\, sugar cane\, and cotton. Because of the richness of the soil and the bounty of the harvest\, these lands were geared towards mass-scale farming\, which also meant that hundreds of people were needed to maintain the operations. This manual labor came in the form of slaves from Africa and elsewhere\, shipped over to the Americas in order to toil in the fields and produce the crop. The northern areas\, by comparison\, had little need for such large-scale import of slave-labor\, as the temperate weather meant that farming was in the form of small-scale food-crop agriculture. Due to the progressive urbanization and industrialization of the northeast\, businesses were largely run by European immigrants and their extended families. In these areas\, maintaining slaves during the long winters was\, on the contrary\, an expensive rather than a cost-effective enterprise.  \n \n \nAs more and more communities of people moved west across North America\, the territories that applied to join as new states in the United States\, grew from 13 in 1789 to 34 in 1861. Until 1850\, these states were roughly divided between those in the southern areas and those in the north\, and so too between the states that maintained slavery as an important economic enterprise\, and those with little or no need for it to sustain their economies.  \n \n \nBy the late 1850s\, the southern states\, whose economy relied on the growth and export of cotton\, had exhausted the geographic regions that supported cotton plantations and could not viably expand beyond the areas to which they were confined. As the westward expansion of the North continued and the number of “free” states increased\, the South found itself in an increasingly disadvantaged position. This ultimately resulted in the South’s attempt to secede from the union\, and the Civil War ensued.  \n \n \nUltimately\, Dean Reardon-Anderson concluded\, the levels of rainfall and other similar climatic factors played significant roles in precipitating the American Civil War.  \n \n \nArticle by Suzi Mirgani\, CIRS Publications Coordinator.
URL:https://cirs.qatar.georgetown.edu/event/james-reardon-anderson-rainfall-and-american-civil-war/
CATEGORIES:American Studies,CIRS Faculty Lectures,Dialogue Series,Regional Studies
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DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Moscow:20081119T080000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Moscow:20081119T180000
DTSTAMP:20260510T143139
CREATED:20141026T142411Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20210902T113125Z
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SUMMARY:Compromising Democracy: The Lebanese Example
DESCRIPTION:The Center for International and Regional Studies at the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Qatar hosted a luncheon talk for the visiting Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament\, Nabih Berri\, on November 19\, 2008. \n \n \nBerri has been the speaker of Lebanon’s parliament since 1992. He is effectively one of three heads of state with the prime minister and president. Berri\, an advocate of the March 8 Alliance in Lebanon\, is also the head of the Shi’a Muslim AMAL Movement. \n \n \nBerri began by extending gratitude to H.H the Emir Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and H.E. the foreign and prime minister\, Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor Al Thani\, for Qatar’s key mediatory role between rival Lebanese political factions\, which ultimately led to the resolution of Lebanon’s political deadlock earlier this year via the Doha Agreement 2008. Berri confirmed the successful implementation of the accord\, pointing to the election of a president\, the approval of the constitution by all parliamentary members and the formation of a national unity government. \n \n \nHe also extended gratitude to the State of Qatar for its help with the reconstruction of Lebanon following the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war\, in areas ranging from “healthcare to homes to houses of worship.” Berri also invited further assistance to clear the 2.4 million cluster bombs that remain scattered throughout Southern Lebanon. \n \n \nBerri’s address provided a theoretical overview of the basis and key characteristics of a “congruent democracy” as distinct from other forms of democracy\, as well as a practical account of its realisation in Lebanon. \n \n \nCongruent democracy\, he explained\, emanates and develops in situations of weak national unification and a divided\, heterogeneous population. In particular\, he stated that the most important characteristic of a congruent democracy is the element of ruling through a large coalition such as a national unity government. \n \n \nIn talking about Lebanon’s experience\, Berri confirmed the country’s early adoption of this system of governance since May 23\, 1926\, with the establishment of its first constitution. He highlighted the constitutional provisions which are central to the concept of congruent democracy\, namely\, ensuring that all sects are equally represented in the cabinet and among public services functions\, and that freedom of religion is absolute (Articles 95 and 9 of the Lebanese Constitution respectively). \n \n \nCiting its independence in 1943 and a host of domestic\, regional and international influences that led to constitutional amendments of 1990\, Berri reinforced the fact that Lebanon’s democracy are not static. \n \n \nA number of key changes were highlighted under the rubric of Lebanon’s evolving congruent democracy. The Chamber of Deputies’ Muslim to Christian seat distribution ratio was changed from 5:6 to an equal 6:6\, to accommodate for a growing Muslim majority. He also discussed Article 69 of the amended constitution which deems the government as resigned if more than 1/3 of the members withdraw. Other points discussed include the veto right extended to the Council of Ministers to create a system of unanimous decision-making and a revision in the balance of executive power extended to the prime minister and president. \n \n \nOn the question of whether or not congruent democracy proved to be a successful political system for Lebanon\, Berri confirmed its positive outcome. \n \n \n“Lebanon is unlike any other country in the world\, in the light of its steadfast commitment and continuous recourse to dialogue meetings held both locally and internationally\,” he said. He pointed to talks held in Lausanne\, Saint-Cloud\, Taif and Doha\, as key examples of the operations of a congruent democracy. \n \n \nBerri explained that the congruence culture\, while evolving to better reflect the socio-political changes of its time\, “has always been rooted in the minds of the Lebanese nationals.” As distinct from an inevitably unsuccessful export product\, he stressed the importance of a “home-made and national democracy which must be consistent with the nature and hopes of its people.” \n \n \nBerri concluded that his country’s culture of congruence\, regardless of its results\, constitutes the “security and safety valve of Lebanon’s political system.” As such\, the lacking ingredient in Lebanon is not the recognition of congruent democracy per se\, but the need to observe and respect the principle. \n \n \nDuring the concluding Q&A session\, Berri recalled the great show of national unity during the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war\, drawing upon examples of supported internal migration and united Lebanese resistance. Berri also highlighted nationalist ideologies\, refusing the claim of a Lebanese “positive-neutral” political approach and endorsing Lebanon’s Arab identity and commitment to the Palestinian crisis. Finally\, in countering the claim that the TAIF Agreement of 1989 runs parallel to a congruent democratic Lebanon\, Berri ended by retracing Lebanon’s history from the days of Fakhreddine\, who celebrated the unique demographics of the country where reconciliation and harmony should prevail.
URL:https://cirs.qatar.georgetown.edu/event/compromising-democracy-lebanese-example/
CATEGORIES:Dialogue Series,Regional Studies
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