Elements of Elements of NationhoodNationhood

Introduction to Political ScienceIntroduction to Political ScienceLecture, March 24, 2011Lecture, March 24, 2011

LIU Nabatiyeh LIU Nabatiyeh Instructor Abir ChaabanInstructor Abir Chaaban

Elements of NationhoodElements of Nationhood

TerritoryTerritory PopulationPopulation GovernmentGovernment IndependenceIndependence

According to According to International LawInternational Law

TheThe Montevideo Convention on the Rights and Montevideo Convention on the Rights and Duties of StatesDuties of States 1933 defines the state as a 1933 defines the state as a territory, with a permanent population, a territory, with a permanent population, a government, and a capacity to enter into government, and a capacity to enter into relations with other states.relations with other states.[1][1]

The permanent population in the state does not The permanent population in the state does not precede an internationally recognized and precede an internationally recognized and defined territory over which the population is defined territory over which the population is permanent.permanent.

[1][1] Hugh M. Kindred et al., Hugh M. Kindred et al., International LawInternational Law, 12-13., 12-13.

Recognition of Recognition of SovereigntySovereignty

The capacity to enter into relations with other The capacity to enter into relations with other states requires international recognition of a states requires international recognition of a domestic sovereign authority, or the “rulers” domestic sovereign authority, or the “rulers” who assume this authority in order to secure who assume this authority in order to secure the supreme jurisdiction over the territorial the supreme jurisdiction over the territorial state.state.

The dynamic that mobilizes the state The dynamic that mobilizes the state internationally is the recognition of its internationally is the recognition of its sovereignty as embodied in the “rulers” who sovereignty as embodied in the “rulers” who are recognized as sovereigns possessing the are recognized as sovereigns possessing the authority to make law domestically and authority to make law domestically and internationally. internationally.

RecognitionRecognition

Recognition grants the state and its Recognition grants the state and its sovereignty a character of sovereignty a character of international legitimacy and international legitimacy and consequently, a capacity to enter consequently, a capacity to enter into relations with other sovereign-into relations with other sovereign-states. states.

Definition of Recognition in Definition of Recognition in International LawInternational Law

Recognition has been described as Recognition has been described as “ “ the free act by which one or more the free act by which one or more

states acknowledge the existence on a states acknowledge the existence on a definite territory of a human society definite territory of a human society politically organized, independent of politically organized, independent of any other and is capable of observing any other and is capable of observing the obligations of international law.”the obligations of international law.”

Israel and the Palestinian Israel and the Palestinian TerritoriesTerritories

The General Assembly’s partition of mandated The General Assembly’s partition of mandated Palestine into two states, a Jewish state, and an Palestine into two states, a Jewish state, and an Arab state in Resolution 181. Arab state in Resolution 181.

In resolution, 181 both territorial entities the Arab In resolution, 181 both territorial entities the Arab state and the Jewish state were recognized as state and the Jewish state were recognized as territorial states by the General Assembly. Israel territorial states by the General Assembly. Israel was recognized internationally as a sovereign was recognized internationally as a sovereign nation-state. Sovereignty over the Palestinian nation-state. Sovereignty over the Palestinian territories was not recognized by international territories was not recognized by international powers.powers.

United Nations General Assembly “Resolution 181 (II)”, Chapter 4 F. United Nations General Assembly “Resolution 181 (II)”, Chapter 4 F. A/RES/181(II)(A+B) (29 November 1947). A/RES/181(II)(A+B) (29 November 1947).

Resolution 181 (II)Resolution 181 (II) Resolution 181 (II), envisioned membership to the Resolution 181 (II), envisioned membership to the

United Nations under Part I section F, The article United Nations under Part I section F, The article states: states:

““When the independence of either the Arab or the When the independence of either the Arab or the Jewish State as envisaged in this plan has become Jewish State as envisaged in this plan has become effective and the declaration and undertaking, as effective and the declaration and undertaking, as envisaged in this plan, have been signed by either of envisaged in this plan, have been signed by either of them, sympathetic consideration should be given to its them, sympathetic consideration should be given to its application for admission to membership in the United application for admission to membership in the United Nations in accordance with Article 4 of the Charter of Nations in accordance with Article 4 of the Charter of the United Nations.”the United Nations.”[1][1]

[1] United Nations. General Assembly Resolution [1] United Nations. General Assembly Resolution 181 (II) , Chapter 4 F. A/RES/181(II)(A+B) (29 181 (II) , Chapter 4 F. A/RES/181(II)(A+B) (29 November 1947). November 1947).

Israel and the Palestinian Israel and the Palestinian territoriesterritories

Charter of the United Nations article 4(2), states that Charter of the United Nations article 4(2), states that “Admission of any state to membership in the United “Admission of any state to membership in the United Nations will be effected by a decision of the General Nations will be effected by a decision of the General Assembly upon recommendation of the Security Assembly upon recommendation of the Security Council. Only upon admission, the state is granted Council. Only upon admission, the state is granted supreme sovereign jurisdiction over territory and a supreme sovereign jurisdiction over territory and a status of equality of exercising sovereign powers status of equality of exercising sovereign powers domestically and internationally. domestically and internationally.

A state then can exist as a territory in the absence of a A state then can exist as a territory in the absence of a recognized sovereign authority exercising control over recognized sovereign authority exercising control over territory as in the case of the Arab state created by territory as in the case of the Arab state created by resolution 181 General Assembly, Forty Fifth Meeting, resolution 181 General Assembly, Forty Fifth Meeting, Application of Israel for Admission to membership in Application of Israel for Admission to membership in the United Nations (A/818) A/AC.24/SR.45 (5 May the United Nations (A/818) A/AC.24/SR.45 (5 May 1949). 1949).

The capacity to Enter in The capacity to Enter in International Relations International Relations

( Independence( Independence

Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, Article 6. Every state possesses capacity to Article 6. Every state possesses capacity to conclude treaties. Article 7(2), In virtue of conclude treaties. Article 7(2), In virtue of their functions and without having to produce their functions and without having to produce full powers, the following are considered as full powers, the following are considered as representing their states a) Heads of States, representing their states a) Heads of States, Heads of Government and Ministers for Heads of Government and Ministers for Foreign Affairs, for the purpose of performing Foreign Affairs, for the purpose of performing all acts relating to the conclusion of a treaty. all acts relating to the conclusion of a treaty.

The Partition of the The Partition of the Ottoman Empire Ottoman Empire

The Partition of Syria- King Crane The Partition of Syria- King Crane ReportReport

The Making of LebanonThe Making of Lebanon The TerritoryThe Territory The peopleThe people The Government The Government And the Capacity to enter into And the Capacity to enter into

international relations.international relations.

The Making of LebanonThe Making of Lebanon

Pragmatically, during a time in history when Pragmatically, during a time in history when empires were falling, the primary question the empires were falling, the primary question the League of Nations had to resolve was the League of Nations had to resolve was the territorial allocation of states to internationally territorial allocation of states to internationally recognized sovereign authorities. recognized sovereign authorities.

The territorial demarcation of “Historic Syria” The territorial demarcation of “Historic Syria” into Palestine, Lebanon, and Syria was not a into Palestine, Lebanon, and Syria was not a problem presented by “nations” who inhabited problem presented by “nations” who inhabited the territorial states of Palestine, Lebanon, the territorial states of Palestine, Lebanon, and Syria as demarcated by the Sykes Picot and Syria as demarcated by the Sykes Picot Agreement. Agreement.

The main questions to The main questions to answeranswer

What is the historic territory?What is the historic territory? Who is the nation?Who is the nation? Who is the sovereign authority that Who is the sovereign authority that

has the capacity to enter into has the capacity to enter into international relations.international relations.

Who is the Nation?Who is the Nation? The British introduced the discourse of the The British introduced the discourse of the

legitimacy of the “nation” being a mass of legitimacy of the “nation” being a mass of people, sharing a historic myth of the nation people, sharing a historic myth of the nation and the state, and existed in 1919 devoid the and the state, and existed in 1919 devoid the territorial state. territorial state.

The legitimacy criteria promoted by the The legitimacy criteria promoted by the British was most evident in and was to take British was most evident in and was to take shape in conflicting discourses emerging shape in conflicting discourses emerging around the “Balfour Declaration”, which is a around the “Balfour Declaration”, which is a pledge that was given by the British pledge that was given by the British Government in 1917 to the Zionist Government in 1917 to the Zionist Organization conveying that Government's Organization conveying that Government's support for the establishment in Palestine of a support for the establishment in Palestine of a “national home” for the “Jewish people.” “national home” for the “Jewish people.”

The National PactThe National Pact

The institutionalization of Lebanon as a The institutionalization of Lebanon as a sovereign and territorial state was sovereign and territorial state was concluded based on an unwritten concluded based on an unwritten agreement known as the National Pact agreement known as the National Pact الوطني ) ) الوطني الميثاق .( .( الميثاق

The National Pact is not even mentioned in The National Pact is not even mentioned in the Constitution of Lebanon. Egyptian and the Constitution of Lebanon. Egyptian and British actors with the support of General British actors with the support of General Edward Spears, Bechara al-Khuri and Edward Spears, Bechara al-Khuri and several prominent members of the Sulh several prominent members of the Sulh Family advocated the National Family advocated the National

The National PactThe National Pact The institutionalization of Lebanon as a The institutionalization of Lebanon as a

sovereign and territorial state was concluded sovereign and territorial state was concluded based on an unwritten agreement known as the based on an unwritten agreement known as the National Pact ( National Pact ( الوطني الوطني الميثاق The National Pact ). The National Pact .( الميثاقis not even mentioned in the Constitution of is not even mentioned in the Constitution of Lebanon. Egyptian and British actors with the Lebanon. Egyptian and British actors with the support of General Edward Spears, Bechara al-support of General Edward Spears, Bechara al-Khuri and several prominent members of the Khuri and several prominent members of the Sulh Family advocated the National Pact as a Sulh Family advocated the National Pact as a power-sharing formula for Muslims and power-sharing formula for Muslims and Christian coexistence. In the National Pact Christian coexistence. In the National Pact formula, Muslim meant Sunni-Arab nationalist formula, Muslim meant Sunni-Arab nationalist and Christian meant Maronite-Phoenician. and Christian meant Maronite-Phoenician.

The National PactThe National Pact In addition to the non-constitutional National In addition to the non-constitutional National

Pact, article 95 of the Constitution of Pact, article 95 of the Constitution of Lebanon defines the sectarian mechanism Lebanon defines the sectarian mechanism according to which public office is allocated according to which public office is allocated to parliament members by confession. This to parliament members by confession. This allocation is based on the 1932 census, which allocation is based on the 1932 census, which is the one and only official census ever is the one and only official census ever conducted in Lebanon. The results of this conducted in Lebanon. The results of this census, were also the foundation according to census, were also the foundation according to which the unwritten National Pact (which the unwritten National Pact ( الميثاق الميثاق power-sharing formula of 1943 ) power-sharing formula of 1943 (الوطنيالوطنيdivided the executive power between a Sunni divided the executive power between a Sunni Prime Minister and Maronite President.Prime Minister and Maronite President.

The Problem of Legitimacy The Problem of Legitimacy in the Case of Lebanonin the Case of Lebanon

The elites that concluded the power-sharing formula The elites that concluded the power-sharing formula were chosen, protected, and recognized as the were chosen, protected, and recognized as the legitimate representatives of the Lebanese people by legitimate representatives of the Lebanese people by the British not by the Lebanese people. the British not by the Lebanese people.

These elites negotiated with the British to achieve These elites negotiated with the British to achieve the independence of Lebanon, consequently they the independence of Lebanon, consequently they granted themselves and their descendents the right granted themselves and their descendents the right to be the “confessional representatives” of the to be the “confessional representatives” of the “confessional communities” of Lebanon. The “confessional communities” of Lebanon. The Lebanese people never voted to grant either the Lebanese people never voted to grant either the Constitution or to the National Pact any popular Constitution or to the National Pact any popular legitimacy. This makes the Lebanese confessional legitimacy. This makes the Lebanese confessional system and the National Pact illegitimate in the eyes system and the National Pact illegitimate in the eyes of the Lebanese people. This illegitimacy calls for a of the Lebanese people. This illegitimacy calls for a revolution to change and a revolution that will revolution to change and a revolution that will rewrite the constitution by the people of Lebanon.rewrite the constitution by the people of Lebanon.

Week Class Topic of Study Readings

One Introduction to Course SyllabusIs Politics a ScienceKey Concepts: Legitimacy, Sovereignty, Authority

Michael G. Roskin et al, Political Science, An Introduction Ninth Edition (New Jersey: Pearson, 2006). 6-7

TwoThe International State System Westphalia, The League of Nations and the United Nations.World War I and the Collapse of the Ottoman Empire

Instructor Handout

ThreeTheories of Political Science Vs. Political IdeologiesPolitical Ideologies in Lebanon

Michael G. Roskin et al, Political Science, An Introduction 18-23 92-112, Instructor Handout

FourThe Elements of NationhoodThe Making of the State of Lebanon

Michael G. Roskin et al, Political Science, An Introduction Ninth Edition 36-41Picard, Elizabeth. Lebanon a Shattered Country. New York: Holmes & Meier, 2002. 23-35

FiveIndividuals and ConstitutionsComparison between The Constitution of Lebanon, the United States, and France

Michael G. Roskin et al, Political Science, An Introduction Ninth Edition

Part II: The Basic Elements and Systems of Government

SixThe Basic Institutions of GovernmentLegislator, Executive

Michael G. Roskin et al, Political Science, An Introduction Ninth Edition

SevenMidtermPaper DiscussionEach student must have a clear topic of their paper. 5% of your paper markEach student must have a list of bibliography of books he will investigate for their topic. 10% of your paper markEach Student must have developed a clear thesis, an introduction and a plan of development.

EightPolitical Party and Party SystemIs Lebanon a Party SystemThe Lebanese Confessional SystemThe National Pact

Michael G. Roskin et al, Political Science, An Introduction Ninth Edition.Instructor Handout

Nine ElectionsElections in Lebanon

Michael G. Roskin et al, Political Science, An Introduction Ninth Edition.Instructor Handout

TenDemocracy, Totalitarianism and AuthoritarianismIs Lebanon a Democracy

Michael G. Roskin et al, Political Science, An Introduction Ninth Edition

ElevenPolitical Communication and the MediaLebanese Media and political partiesAl Jadeed, OTV, Al-Manar, Future TV, MTV

Michael G. Roskin et al, Political Science, An Introduction Ninth Edition

Part III: Legitimacy, Sovereignty and Authority and the Crises of Nation Building

TwelveThe Crises of Nation BuildingCase Study the Collapse of the Lebanese Government 1975

Michael G. Roskin et al, Political Science, An Introduction Ninth Edition 36-41Rotberg, Robert I., ed. State Failure and State Weakness in a Time of Terror. Washington, DC: Brookings Institution Press, 2003

ThirteenViolence and Revolution

Michael G. Roskin et al, Political Science, An Introduction Ninth Edition 355-375

FourteenRevisiting the Concepts of Legitimacy, Sovereignty and AuthorityCase studies, the Case of Egypt, the case of Libya, the Case of Iraq

Instructor Handout

Fifteen Paper Presentations