Nabi Berri

1938 -

Politician in Lebanon.

Nabi Berri was born in Sierra Leone in 1938 and received his law degree from Lebanese University. He became a close associate of Imam Musa Sadr and came to prominence in the political life of Lebanon during the late 1970s after Musa Sadr disappeared in 1978, which thrust Berri, as a key leader of the AMAL movement, into the forefront of political activity. He assumed the presidency of AMAL in 1980. He has held several ministerial posts since 1984. His charismatic personality has helped his political fortunes, but it is his political deference to the government of Syria that has been primarily responsible for his ability to limit the influence of his rivals within the Shiʿite community. Berri transformed the AMAL movement from an organization loyal to the legacy of Musa Sadr into one under his political control. He headed the Liberation List in the 1992 election and formed the largest bloc in parliament, thereby becoming its speaker. Although Berri is not from a traditional political (zuʿama) family, he has not refrained from forming coalitions with traditional landowning families. His popularity has sunk since he took office as accusations of corruption and extravagance have surrounded him and his key associates. His movement almost lost the 2000 parliamentary election, but Syria forced the popular Hizbullah to form a joint ticket with AMAL. Berri was subsequently reelected, and he also was reelected speaker of the parliament. In 2000, his movement suffered a setback with the ouster of two key leaders, including the popular Muhammad Abd al-Hamid Baydun.

Bibliography

Norton, Richard Augustus. Amal and the Shiʿa Struggle for theSoul of Lebanon. Austin: University of Texas Press, 1987.

— AS'AD ABUKHALIL