The Future Of March 14

Are we moving towards the post-March 14 era?

Fares Soueid, the General Secretary of March 14 loves the big picture. You often find him in various TV station talk shows, talking about grand schemes and lofty ideals, long-term projects and sophisticated theories about the Christians in the East and how the March 14 alliance can restore their influence. Yet when it comes to the nitty-gritty of politics, like in the recent infighting over ministerial positions, Mr. Soueid becomes conspicuously absent.

I like to compare the March 14 project to the European Union. A great idea on paper with enormous potential, but when push comes to shove, the nation state becomes the only polity that really matters. Likewise, in March 14, when matters become concrete (a ministerial position here, an election there), the alliance breaks down into its separate sectarian blocks that compete to further their individual interests.

So why insist on having such an umbrella group?

Mr Soueid would perhaps answer that the March 14 project, as imagined by people like Gebran Tueni and Samir Kassir, is an inherently optimistic and hopeful project. A yearning to a time when the Lebanese will move beyond tribalism into the realm of ideas and fair competition.

But as far as this generation is concerned, what really matters is who gets the ministry of public works.