Thread by @hanihassan26

A propos some of the recent discussion on re-envisioning #Lebanon's political system, today's bit of 'useless' #Trivia is dedicated to
𝘍𝘦𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘮 🙃

The term federalism as a political union is first attested in 1787 referencing American federalism..

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In its broadest sense, federalism actually seeks a strong central government along with the distribution of power between the central government & constituent entities, & thrives on negotiation between the constituents & central authority.

The term itself is derived from..

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'Federal' which in fact originates from theological rather than political discourse. In the 17th century the term referred to covenants between humans & God, from the Latin foedus meaning covenant or treaty, from Proto-Indo-European root *bheidh meaning to trust.

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The more political/secular sense arises late in the 17th century & more so in the latter 18th century with American Federalism.
As such, federation, & contrary to what some may perceive, is not division but rather is (strictly understood) a union by treaty or agreement..

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from Late Latin foederationem, noun of action from Latin foederare meaning to "league together."

That being said, one wonders if Lebanon is not in fact already a federation..

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whereof the feudal lords & kleptocrats are already pretty much in league together through various pacts & covenants.. Except that they do not do so for the public good but rather for their own private gains, & at the expense of any form of sovereign central authority...