When Democracy Falls Short: What We Can Learn from Lebanon and Tunisia скачать в хорошем качестве

When Democracy Falls Short: What We Can Learn from Lebanon and Tunisia

00:00 Tania Haddad opens the webinar, outlining how negotiated settlements and elite compromises have shaped post-uprising politics and raising questions about accountability, trust, and reform. 03:12 Moderator Roupen Avsharian asks why Tunisia shifted back toward authoritarianism under Kais Saied and what lessons can be drawn from its failed democratic transition. 04:04 Sharan Grewal explains how Tunisia’s grand coalitions and consensus politics initially stabilized the transition but ultimately undermined democracy. 07:00 Grewal argues that continued power sharing intensified polarization, fueled hardliners on both sides, and delegitimized parliament. 10:48 Grewal shows how elite consensus fostered public frustration, paving the way for populism and Saied’s consolidation of power. 18:06 Ohannes Geukjian examines Lebanon’s century of power sharing, arguing that sectarian privilege and elite deadlock prevented genuine state-building. 22:10 Geukjian explains how unimplemented constitutional provisions, corruption, and repeated violations of democratic processes weakened Lebanon’s institutions. 27:09 Geukjian discusses how Syria, Iran, Israel, and other actors penetrated Lebanese politics, reinforcing state fragility and sectarian divisions. 36:47 Grewal reflects on whether a clearer government–opposition divide might have preserved Tunisia’s democracy and prevented populist backlash. 46:22 Geukjian responds to questions on whether Lebanon’s sectarian system can be reformed, emphasizing entrenched elites, structural paralysis, and the difficulty of meaningful change. 50:19 Grewal highlights South Africa as an example where early power sharing successfully transitioned into competitive democratic politics. 52:59 Haddad concludes that power sharing alone does not guarantee good governance and must be paired with institutional reform, transparency, and public trust.