WTF: All night long with the most important Arab Around
See the sharply dressed gentleman on the far right?
He’s Clovis Maksoud. In a narrow portion of the academic world, namely the Arab Studies genre, he’s a big-wig. UN, Arab League, G-town, American University, you name it, he’s been there, done that.
I know him as senile old Lebanese fellow who thinks my Precious Moments “Love is Forgiving” necklace is cute. He repeats anecdotes an epic amount of times [I won't say I don't enjoy them] whilst squinting/giggling. He claims to be the first dude to suggest a one-state solution [don't worry folks, we're not going there]. He even practically single-handedly [how does he do it!? he's EIGHTY!!] wrote the UNDP’s Arab Human Development Report [Arab Human Development? Self-doomed to failure, proclaimed the Economist in 2002.]
So, why a 4:37 am post about this fellow? Because this is my last all-nighter [insha'allah, God Willing, as the Arabs say] of the year 2006 and I want to commemorate why I am writing fifteen pages of poppycock about how Egypt’s Coptic Christians fit into the framework of the Arab Human Development Report [improved governance and subsequently minority rights, if you really must know].
More fun in the hot Arab development sun right after the jump!
For posterity, this is what Clovis told me about my paper proposal:
While I am inclined to approve, I must draw your attention to the pitfalls of using a sectarian prism on an overall development process. While that might not be your intention as ogjective [sic] I want you to be aware of the pitfall. Perhaps some redrafting of your interesting proposal might render it more in tune with the methodology of AHDRs and the seminar requirement. See me during the break.
Sectarian prism? Awwww, Clovis, you’ve underestimated me! No sectarian prisms here! In fact, I don’t even know what you mean! Is that IR terminology? Because I’m strictly social science from here on out. Give me theory any day. International Development is a waste of my life.
But at least I’m not writing a paper on Nietzsche!!11!!WIN
Featured Music:
