The Night of Ideas Lebanon 2022

27/01/2022
Local: 5:00 pm
Paris: 4:00 pm
French Institute of Lebanon, Beirut Espace des Lettres, rue de Damas, Beirut, LB
Lebanon
French / Arabic
https://institutfrancais-liban.com/#/
https://www.facebook.com/InstitutFrLiban/

The Night of Ideas in Lebanon will take place on 27 January 2022 in Beirut from 5pm to 11pm. On the programme:

  • 5pm: Welcome by Mrs Anne Grillo, French Ambassador to Lebanon
  • 5:15 pm: Introductory remarks with the great witness of the Night of Ideas 2022 in Beirut, Patrick Boucheron, professor at the Collège de France, proposes to use history to defatalize our understanding of the world today. As a promoter of a decompartmentalization of national historical approaches around major works such as the World History of France or the World in the 15th Century, he shatters the boundaries between literature, social sciences and the past. A specialist in the systems of power that emerged in Europe during the Renaissance, with a prolific body of work, he is pursuing in-depth investigations into times of crisis and the new horizons that emerge from them, on the foundations of the "Good Governments" that serve to ward off fear. As holder of the chair of History of Powers in Western Europe at the Collège de France, he continues tirelessly to explore new spaces for dialogue and exchange where he shares historical knowledge in a joyful and fruitful way, whether in various radio and television appearances, during meetings in the Parisian suburbs, or again in the Abbey of Lagrasse at the book banquet.
  • 6pm: WHAT ECONOMIC FACE FOR LEBANON IN THE FUTURE? Debate moderated by Fouad Khoury-Hélou, Executive Director of L'Orient-Le Jour.
    The serious economic and social crisis that Lebanon has been going through since 2019 calls for a profound rethink. Is the economic model based on tertiarisation and financialisation disappearing? Does the growth of the so-called "productive" sectors (industry, agriculture) offer an alternative? Should it be a priority? Should the Lebanese economic model itself be questioned, or only its implementation? Inefficiency and low productivity of the public sector, "twin" deficits of the budget and the balance of payments, absence of regulatory and fiscal corrections, even of real economic governance. At a time when Lebanon is facing crucial choices, this debate is more urgent than ever.
    The speakers:
    Sibylle Rizk, director of public policy at the NGO Kulluna Irada and former editor-in-chief of Commerce du Levant.
    Jean Riachi, founder and current CEO and Chairman of the Board of FFA Private Bank
    Adel Afiouni, former Minister for Investment and Technology, investment banker (Credit Suisse, BNP Paribas).
  • 7.30 pm: SOCIAL ACTION: FROM CIVIL SOCIETY TO THE STATE OF TOMORROW. Round table discussion moderated by Suzanne Baaklini, journalist at L'Orient-Le Jour.
    Marked by social inequalities that were already very strong in the early 2000s, Lebanon has seen more than 80% of its population affected by a dramatic deterioration in living conditions since 2019. While the social state is being dramatically reduced, civil society is mobilising to help disadvantaged populations and those who have recently fallen into poverty. It is not the first time that these plural actors intervene in an emergency situation in mechanisms that are being reinvented. Can these ad hoc mechanisms be a solution for the future? To what extent could the logic of associative self-help and the mobilisation of civil society lay the foundations for a state based on citizens' rights and the provision of effective public services?
    The speakers:
    Georges Attieh, President of the Central Inspection.
    Carole Charabati, Professor of Political Science at the USJ, Director of Research at Siren Associates (the company responsible for developing the Impact platform).
    Maya Ibrahimchah, founder and president of the association Beit el Baraka.
  • 9pm: ENERGY: THE SUBJECT TRANSITION
    Round table discussion moderated by Cyrille Nême, journalist at L'Orient-Le Jour.
    Both linked to the causes of the crisis and its most visible symptom, the collapse of the Lebanese electricity network is catching all actors off guard. The shortages of electricity and fuel are paralyzing the economy, threatening the functioning of essential services, and highlighting more than ever the consequences of the country's dependence on imported fossil fuels. At a time when we are all confronted with the need to profoundly rethink the way we consume and produce energy to address climate change, how can we enable Lebanon to regain its light in the long term? From the promise of potential offshore gas deposits to that of renewable energy, what resources can it rely on? What reforms should be undertaken, both at the level of public authorities and in lifestyles?
    The speakers:
    Laury Haytayan, expert in hydrocarbons, director of the Institute for Natural Resource Governance (NRGI) for the Middle East and North Africa, and founding member of the Lebanese Coalition for Good Governance in the Extractive Industries (LCEI).
    Marc Ayoub, researcher in energy policy at the Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs at the American University of Beirut.
    Rony Karam, Director of the KDP Real Estate Group and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Lebanese Foundation for Renewable Energy (LFRE)

IDEAS FOR YOUTH
Spaces of the media library of the French Institute of Lebanon in Beirut
Throughout the evening, the French Institute of Lebanon proposes for the first time a program entirely dedicated to youth within the Night of Ideas 2022. Through the media library and its spaces, animations, workshops and conferences are proposed to the youngest.

IDEAS FOR LEBANON! (From 10 years old)
Led by Sophie Guignon, journalist - Hall of the media library / 6pm to 7.30pm. In contrast to the political blockages, Lebanese civil society undertakes, projects, helps and maintains entire sections of the country. In the midst of the many Lebanese who leave the country every day, exasperated by the lack of prospects and horizons, some choose to stay, to create, to help, to (re)build.

THE IDEAS READING CORNER (From the youngest age)
Media library of the French Institute of Lebanon in Beirut - All evening

THE KITCHEN OF IDEAS
With "The Book of Beirut" - Mediatheque of the French Institute of Lebanon in Beirut / From 5pm
The kitchen of ideas is the concept developed by "The Book of Beirut" to allow children to have fun and create by playing with words. The aim is for them to create recipes for life using their imagination and their own vocabulary to develop their confidence and self-esteem. The "imaginary recipes" will be collected in a dedicated book which will include a "new word dictionary" created by the children.

THE CAFÉ OF IDEAS
All evening from 6pm.
The emblematic Café des lettres, bistro of the French Institute of Lebanon in Beirut, has just reopened its doors under the
reopened its doors under the guidance of chef Ramzi Choueiri and will be exceptionally open throughout the evening. Journalist Nanette Ziadé will offer a series of interviews with thinkers, writers and artists invited for the Night of Ideas. On the musical side, DJ Guy Rebeiz will offer a playlist of the Night of Ideas guests.

> THE ARTISTIC PROPOSAL
A collection of ideas for Lebanon is being carried out among the public and through the branches of the French Institute of Lebanon. From Tripoli, Jounieh, Baalbek, Zahlé, Tyre, Saïda, Nabatieh, the Lebanese are invited to propose their ideas for a new narrative that brings hope and perspectives.
"Why stay in Lebanon" is the question they are asked. The collected elements are grouped together and exhibited in a new scenography in the gallery of the French Institute of Lebanon in Beirut during the Night of Ideas and beyond. In parallel to this exhibition, several artists invited by Ibrahim Nehme, curator of the exhibition, will take up the project and give it a multidisciplinary artistic resonance: music, poetry, light projections, and scenographic installation will form an artistic "whole" in the form of a living performance that the audience of the Night of Ideas will visit during the evening.
In collaboration with the spinners of Bisat Al Rih, Adrian Pepe will revisit the technique of carded wool through a contemporary installation on the floor where the public can sit.
The French-speaking poet Corinne Boulad will lend her voice to the chords of Frida Chelhaoui and her musicians by improvising some verses from the ideas collected on the Lebanon of tomorrow.

Guest artists:
Adrian Pepe - Visual artist
Corinne Boulad - Poet
Frida Chelhaoui - Musician

The art installation will remain in place for several weeks after the Night of Ideas.

AROUND THE NIGHT OF IDEAS
Before and after, in Beirut and in the regions, the Night of Ideas unfolds!

BEIRUT - 26 JANUARY
Patrick Boucheron: "Rebuilding together, the lessons of the Renaissance
Saint-Joseph University - Abu Khater Amphitheatre
Human Sciences Campus CSH
Wednesday 26 January - 4.30 pm
in collaboration with the departments of French Literature and History-International Relations of the USJ

FRENCH INSTITUTE OF LEBANON IN DEIR EL QAMAR - 28 JANUARY
"What Lebanon for tomorrow" Friday 28 January at 6pm
Retours sur 202X, a theatrical documentary project led by Fabrice Henry, from mid-September to mid-December. During his residency, Fabrice met more than 90 Lebanese from all walks of life and all ages and interviewed them about their vision of the country's future.

FRENCH INSTITUTE OF LEBANON IN ZAHLE
Saturday 29 January - 1.30 pm to 3.30 pm
The kitchen of ideas, participative workshop of cooked ideas, with Book of Beirut
For children from 6 to 10 years old - 16:00-17:30
Building alternative education and consumption processes in Lebanon: the democratic exercise at school and in the collective, methods, difficulties and successes". Around these questions we will meet Ghoussoun Wahoud (École Esprits Libres and Centre Sport et Culture Hermel) and Serge Harfouche from Buzuruna Juzuruna (food sovereignty, rural development), to talk about their unique approach in the Bekaa, based on new pedagogies and food sovereignty.

FRENCH INSTITUTE OF LEBANON IN BAALBEK
Monday 31 January at 6 pm
Production on a human scale and modalities of a virtuous economy: problems and perspectives for the Bekaa", around these topics, we will meet and exchange with Dr. Lami Lakkis (LOST), Angela El Hayek (Senior Livelihood agricultural Engineer ACTED), Ouloum Awdé (President of the Cheghel Dayyeti association), Rima Berkachi (WADA - Women association of Deir el Ahmar).

Partners