Marwan Bishara () is a Palestinian Arab, born in Nazareth, Israel. He is currently an author, columnist and the senior political analyst for Al Jazeera English From 2007 to 2014, Bishara was the editor and host of their flagship programme Empire, which examined global powers and their agendas in a fusion of documentary and debate with politicians, generals, philosophers, academics, novelists, movie directors, and activists from the world over. He has been described as "one of the Arab world's leading public intellectuals" and writes extensively on global politics and is widely considered a leading authority on the Middle East and international affairs.
Although he grew up in Israel, Marwan Bishara has spent most of his adult life outside the country, including periods of studying, living and working in the United States and France as well as traveling extensively in the course of his career interests, travel which he has described as providing "perspectives like no other".
Life and career
Bishara earned a PhD in political sociology and strategic studies in 2005 from the École des hautes études en sciences sociales (EHESS) in 2005. His thesis, undertaken under the supervision of sociologist Alain Joxe is entitled "Israeli dependency relations with the United States after 1967: transnational relationship of patronage and the globalization of the Israeli-Palestinian deadlock". During this period, Bishara was a lecturer in International Relations at the American University of Paris and worked as a senior researcher at the Interdisciplinary Research Centre for peace and Strategic Studies (French) Centre interdisciplinaire de recherche sur la paix et d'études stratégiques (CIRPES) He also taught at the Parson School of design in Paris prior to that. Before joining Al Jazeera in 2007 he was senior political analyst for Abu Dhabi TV. In 2017–18 he joined St Anthony's college, Oxford University as an academic visitor, working on US Patron-Client relations in the Middle East.
Marwan Bishara's journalistic output is prolific and spans over 30 years, appearing in The New York Times, Washington Post, Newsweek, The Guardian, Le Monde, Le Monde Diplomatique The Nation, Huffington Post among other outlets, including an ever growing collection of opinion pieces for Al Jazeera. He has written in English, Arabic, Hebrew and French and has had his work translated into other languages. YouTube carries a large number of his analyses for Al Jazeera on contemporary affairs in more than one language.
Considered an authority on strategic affairs, notably US foreign policy, Cold War, and Middle Eastern relations, Bishara has been a consistent vocal critic of official policies, especially American and Soviet imperialism, European colonialism, and Middle East dictatorships.
Bishara identifies as a liberal democrat in as far as he supports liberal democracy. He is also a pacifist and has written extensively on the futility and savagery of war, its disingenuous justifications and inherent misogyny preferring to press for diplomacy and conflict resolution.
As a Palestinian intellectual, Bishara has been especially critical of Israeli policies while denouncing anti-semitism and all other forms of racism. Equally critical of Palestinian violence Bishara supports peaceful coexistence, through equality, justice and freedom for all in Israel Palestine.
Dr. Bishara has served on a number of boards, including the Jerusalem Fund, previously Center for Policy Analysis on Palestine in Washington, D.C., and was a commissioner/advisor to the World Council of Churches. Currently he serves on the Board of Trustees of The Galilee Foundation, a UK-based charity established in 2007 to promote development and equality of the Palestinian indigenous community in Israel".
Quotes
On CNN regarding the Arab League's attempted regulation of media outlets such as Al Jazeera: "I think Arab – certain Arab – governments are really worried from the freedom of expression that is going on in the Arab world."
On Human Rights
"Universal values and the respect of human rights in general are our best bet to preserve civilization in the long run. Ethics translate into securing the long term interests of humanity on this earth."
On war
"In reality, not even the most skilled spokesman can outsmart a dying child, a weeping father or grieving sister."
"This definite and paradoxical conclusion – the most instructive, and yet ignored of all lessons of war is categorical: Not one great power possessing superior firepower has won against a weaker, less organised and less professional resistance against occupation."