Students 1971-72

I discovered a Merip report on the 1972 student movement of Lebanon in the vaults of the British Library. The piece by Samih Farsoun is a concise explanation by one of the leading lights of the Arab left on the movement for change.

I have a few disagreements with aspects of his analysis, especially on the question of the "comprador bourgeoisie" and "feudal class". But notwithstanding these differences, I felt it is a valuable insight into the period.

I include all the original images.

I remember the riots and demonstrations as a young lad— I was in an English school in south Beirut at the time.

The AUB recently reprinted a diary of the student sit-in.

Both pieces are available in full at Shemali .