Lecture
The Politics of Violence in Post-War Lebanon: Rivalry and Acquiescence between Hezbollah and Lebanese Security Institutions
- Date
- Thursday 18 October 2018
- Time
- Explanation
- Free to visit, drinks after
- Series
- What's New?! fall lecture series
- Location
-
Lipsius
Cleveringaplaats 1
2311 BD Leiden - Room
- 2.27
From its inception, Hezbollah has faced increasing pressure by its Lebanese and international rivals to dissolve its armed militia. Internal rivals, often backed by external powers, not least the US, have systematically tried to strengthen Lebanon’s security institutions as a way of dismantling Hezbollah. Yet, all these efforts have been in vain. Hezbollah has grown stronger, not weaker, as a result. What explains Hezbollah’s prowess vis-à-via the Lebanese Army and other Security Institutions? Whereas traditional scholarship focuses mainly on the sophistication of Hezbollah as a military organization, this lecture argues that it is instead Hezbollah’s political acumen, not military strength, that explains its resilience. This research shows how Hezbollah has managed to reshape the behavior of key Security Institutions within the Lebanese sectarian political order, thus turning the Lebanese State from its archenemy into its accomplice.
About Marina Calculli
Marina Calculli (PhD) is a Lecturer in Middle East Politics at Leiden University. Her research focuses on security and Army-Society relations in the Middle East, with a focus on Lebanon and Syria.