Monday, August 27, 2007

Rallying Around the Renegade: How did Aoun "do it" without losing support?

Heiko Wimmen looks at the political sociology of Aoun's base, at MERIP, here
"... Another constant feature of Aoun’s volatile career is the persistence with which his popular support has bounced back every time his opponents have declared it spent..."

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

The writer has swallowed hook,line, and sinker the narrative of the ruling coalition. He has very little sympathy for Aoun, Hezbollah. His narrative is typical of the western orientalist approach that mixes facts with wishes to make a statement. NGOs operating in Lebanon have been a significant force in financing forces that will do the bidding of the US and the EU in Lebanon. What the writer has failed to notice is that the Establishment, and especially the Christian one, has been an ally of SYria during the latter's presence in Lebanon. AOun is a welcome challenge to a rotten system even if it displeases the traditional sponsors of Western interference (not influenc) in Lebanese politics. Perverely, Syria has significantly contributed to the demise of the traditional political families in Lebanon. Aoun is just one expression of that change.