Hizbullah

Abstract

This chapter focuses on the militant group which has at different times been both the most unsuccessful and successful of the four organizations profiled in this book: Hizbullah. Hizbullah began with ineffective foreign and domestic strategies, characterized by violent coercion and hostile confrontation at home and abroad, both of which hurt its performance during the Lebanese civil war. After the end of the war, however, Hizbullah radically overhauled its approach to both civilians in Lebanon and to its potential patrons, thereby improving its position significantly. Through the skillful use of political marketing, Hizbullah was able to greatly improve its position in Lebanon, as demonstrated by not only its performance in the 2006 July War but also its ability to recover politically afterward.