Part of a modern academic’s life consists of participating to what I call “the global campus”, ie travelling to set up international joint programs and lecture around the world. The global campus is both a fantastic adventure and a redoubtable issue that might lead to a world where teachers and students would travel around the world on a near permanent basis, touching base from time to time in their homeland institution. The etymology of Institution means “staying in”; I cannot imagine what the institutional life of the global campus will be when we do not “stay in” residence that much anymore. Belonging to a university will probably mean participating to a branding undertaking and currently I defend the brand “UVSQ” in Beirut. I will not say much about it: it is a work in progress, and yes, I can say that there is a great deal of interest for the competences we have in our Master “Conflict regulation in the public sphere”. I suppose none reads a blog to have the minutes of many meetings, and anyway the minutes of these meetings will be reserved to my university and the French Embassy which sponsors my (actually our, since I came along with colleagues) presence here. So, let us put it this way: I am doing my job as Chair of department and professor of political science in Beirut.

As for the country itself, I would be ridiculous if I pretended after two days spent here that I grasp even a bit of its reality, beyond the fact that yes, the stigmata of the civil war are everywhere here, that Beirut is a great city without too much signs of visible poverty and with obvious signs of wealth (though one has to be cautious about assessing signs of wealth or poverty. As J* the driver of the French Embassy, and a remarkable example of what a man is and can be, puts it: “do not believe that a Mercedes here is a sign of wealth; due to our roads, a Mercedes is a utility vehicle”). I could also say that food is so fantastic-check your memories of a real good Lebanese restaurant, remember how good it was. Well, here, it is far better-but I doubt this true though touristy remark would raise great interest. As for the people I meet, yes, there are fantastically nice.

Writing this, I have the uneasy feeling that blogging from Beirut might be comparable to something like sending an academic postcard without the picture. “Much work here, food’s fantastic, people so nice, weather little cold. See you soon, guys.”