‘We live in a country where democracy is in danger. In an environment where there are election deniers or climate change deniers. Yes, you want to win. You want them to lose. I wrote this book for many reasons. One is because we cannot have a functioning democracy. The other is because we cannot have a functioning free press. This has happened because people are unwilling to argue in their own good faith and because people who have solid facts and truth cannot win arguments rhetorically. People do not just blindly accept facts. They do not blindly accept truth. I am not saying that you have to win every argument. But if you want to win an argument, you must understand very well what you need to do….’
What is this intriguing story that intertwines ‘argument’? I recently came across this story from the United Kingdom, or more specifically, England. The above words were spoken by a remarkable individual, and they revolve around a particular subject. This story originates from a book he authored. But first, let’s identify who this man is. His name is Mehdi Hasan. While his name may not be instantly recognizable to some, he is well known in global media circles.
Mehdi Hasan is an expert journalist and a chief correspondent for the internationally renowned media organization ‘Al Jazeera.’ Recently, his name resonated widely in Sri Lanka. Why? Because he was at the center of an event that garnered worldwide attention, particularly among the Sri Lankan public. This event was a high-profile media interview conducted by Al Jazeera with former Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe. The interview, part of the ‘Head to Head’ series, was hosted by Mehdi Hasan himself. His hour-long televised conversation with Wickremesinghe has sparked significant global debate due to its exploration of several critical issues. Let’s delve deeper into this incident.
Before analyzing the key takeaways from that discussion, let’s examine the origins of Hasan’s statement. It comes from his book on the art of logic and debate. Titled Win Every Argument: The Art of Debating, Persuading, and Public Speaking, the book provides deep insights into rhetorical strategies and effective public communication. In Sinhala, this could be translated as ‘Winning the Art of Debating, Persuading, and Public Speaking.’ The above remarks were part of a conversation he had with another journalist following the release of his book. Let’s explore that further.
‘I’ve always been interested in narrative and storytelling. In my book, I discuss the importance of emotion and how to connect with your audience on an emotional level. In the chapter on engaging with an audience, I emphasize the significance of starting with a compelling story. I also highlight the power of repetition. I’ve always been fascinated by storytelling, but I didn’t fully grasp its importance until I began researching this book 18 months ago. Only when I delved into the science behind rhetoric and storytelling did I truly understand its impact. I am definitely leaning into that….’
Now, we reach a turning point in this story. Mehdi Hasan, a journalist who has conducted numerous high-profile interviews with presidents, prime ministers, and other global figures, has become a widely recognized figure worldwide. His recent interview with former Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe further cemented his reputation, as it sparked heated controversy. The discussion was filled with intense arguments, and we had previously published some details regarding it.
However, it was later revealed that former President Ranil Wickremesinghe was displeased with certain challenging questions posed by Hasan during the interview. Wickremesinghe also claimed that while the media interview lasted nearly two hours, only about an hour was aired on television. This revelation has added another layer of intrigue to the already contentious discussion.
As this story continues to unfold, Mehdi Hasan’s fearless approach to journalism and his ability to challenge global leaders ensure that his name will remain at the forefront of international media debates. The ‘Head to Head’ interview series, with its unfiltered and direct conversations, will likely continue to make waves, engaging audiences worldwide and sparking crucial discussions on democracy, free speech, and the power of effective argumentation.
By Priynatha Hettige
