Hezbollah: From Islamic Resistance to Government

by James Worrall, Simon Mabon, Gordon Clubb

This detailed analysis follows the rise and evolution of Hezbollah from an Islamic resistance movement to its role as a governing force in Lebanon, exploring the group's impact on the security and power dynamics in the Middle East.

This is the first book of its kind to offer a comprehensive study of Hezbollah, providing an overview of the organization's key personalities, events, and structures over the past three decades. Inspired by the latest terrorism research and contemporary developments in the Middle East, the book reflects upon Hezbollah's religious foundations and its present role as a player in Middle East relations.

Chapters place Hezbollah within the Middle East security environment, analyzing the rise of the Party of God within the context of Iranian-inspired Shi'a activism, examining the ideological underpinnings of the movement, and addressing its dominant political position post Arab Spring. This authoritative volume introduces the party's full range of activities, including resistance, propaganda, organized crime, and educational facilities. The content highlights Hezbollah's role as a social welfare provider―specifically, the types of aid given, the source of financing for the endeavor, and the challenge this role presents to the Lebanese state.

224 pages, Hardcover

First published January 31, 2015

Reviews

[Zulfiqar · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a speech to the Mahdi Scouts, Nasrallah stated that “If we hadn’t intervened in Syria the right way and at the right time, ISIS would be in Beirut right now,” reflecting the fear for the growing power of the group. This belief was stressed in an interview with Al Akbar, where Nasrallah argued that “going to fight in Syria was, in the first place , to defend Lebanon.’ In the same interview, Nasrallah outlined the presence of Syrian groups into Lebanese territory prior to Hezbollah’ actions in Syria: “They do not know, for example that Ersal’s mountainside, extending for tens of kilometers, and several other mountainous areas in Bekaa have been occupied by armed Syrian groups since the beginning of the events. They established training camps, operations rooms, field hospitals, barracks, and meeting points inside Lebanese territory. That was before the first Hezbollah fighter went to Syria."

Fears about ISIS and other jihadist groups engaging in violent acts across Lebanon are furthered by conflict in Arsal, a town on the Syrian border. Arsal was the scene of intense fighting over the summer of 2014 between jihadist groups from Syria and the Lebanese army. (Worrall, James Hezbollah: From Islamic Resistance to Government Pg. 144)