The LCPS organized a two-day conference
on the Lebanese economy in the context of the government's plans
for development and reconstruction. The conference was held in
the Permanent Book Fair of Beirut, in March 1994. The conference
assembled some of Lebanon's most prominent economists. Papers
and commentaries on agriculture, industrial, banking, monetary,
expenditure, fiscal, labor, and income policy were prepared, presented,
and discussed during the conference.
The papers presented during the conference were published in LCPS' Arabic Journal, Abaad issue Number 2.
After publication of the "The
Citizen and Civic Education in Lebanon" , the first post-war civic education textbook which
is intended for use by students of the 14-15 age group, the LCPS
organized and held a one-day workshop in April 1994. The workshop
assembled educators, concerned government officials and public
officials to discuss and evaluate the contents of the book. During
the workshop, the team of educators who were involved in writing
the chapters of the book gave presentations on their chapters.
With support from the Canadian International
Development Agency, the LCPS organized and hosted a three-day
workshop on principles and techniques of civic education in the
evolving context of the contemporary Arab world. The workshop
was held in Adma from the 2nd until the 4th of September, 1994.
In addition to delegates from Lebanon, the workshop assembled
educators, and government and private sector experts from Jordan,
Kuwait, Syria, Bahrain and Canada.
During the three days, conferees
discussed the concept of the citizen in the Arab world, the role
of civic education, the structure of civic education programs
in some Arab countries, and the role of non-governmental organizations
(NGOs) in promoting civic education. Other items discussed were
techniques of teaching civic education in schools, the production
of civic education teaching materials, and the principles behind
designing a civic education curricula.
Participants shared ideas, experiences,
and suggestions for the advancement of civic education in the
region. Beside discussing the condition of civic education in
the Arab world, and ways to strengthen it, participants agreed
to set up an Arab Civic Education Follow-up Committee which will
meet in the future.
All the presentations are published in a Conference Proceedings Report entitled: "Civic Education in the Arab World: Common Perspectives, Problems and Potential Cooperation"
The issue of reforming and reviving
Lebanon's local government network is of central importance to
reforming and reviving the Lebanese political and administrative
system as a whole. Because the number of municipalities is relatively
high (over 600), and the political, administrative, fiscal, social,
and economic issues interwoven in the municipal issue are so complex,
a serious and thorough study of the problems and challenges facing
local government in Lebanon is a critical first step in developing
a rational policy toward this complex issue.
As part of LCPS's research study
on the situation of municipalities which aims to identify problems,
devise solutions and suggest reforms, five researchers presented their work
and findings in a one-day conference on municipal government held
in October, 1994. The conference was attended by public administration
experts, representatives from the Ministry of Municipal and Village
Affairs, as well as parliamentary deputies, journalists, and academics.
The conference brought to the forefront
the problems facing municipal government in Lebanon. Many municipalities
have become dysfunctional and many are ineffective and suffer
from serious financing, staffing, and administrative problems.
During the conference, the participants suggested ways of improving
the municipalities' situation by suggesting the holding of municipal
elections, and the provision to municipalities the needed authority
to make their own autonomous decisions.
As a project outcome, and with support
from the Ford Foundation, the book-length study will be published
in Arabic containing the five regional studies as well as the
analytical introduction and conclusion. In addition, an English
executive summary report will also be published.