Hezbollah is a timely and landmark work. Richard Norton draws on his extensive expertise to offer a comprehensive history that will be of interest to anyone who seeks a better understanding of Hezbollah, Lebanon, or current developments in the Middle East. -- Lee Hamilton, Vice Chair of the 9/11 Commission and Co-Chair of the Iraq Study Group One of the most remarkable developments in the Middle East in recent years is Hezbollah's meteoric rise to power. No one can better explain the broad implications of this phenomenon than Richard Norton. Drawing on his vast knowledge of Lebanon, Norton has written a timely and readable primer that lucidly explains the intricacies of Hezbollah's ideology and history and demystifies its political strategy. -- Vali Nasr, author of "The Shia Revival: How Conflicts within Islam Will Shape the Future" Norton is uniquely positioned to provide an analysis of Hezbollah, one that is historical, nuanced, and informed by more than twenty-five years of experience as a researcher and policy advisor on Lebanon. He is one of the foremost American experts on Hezbollah and Shi'i politics in Lebanon. In addition, Norton's writing is always clear and accessible. This concise and accurate primer will be invaluable to general readers, reporters, and scholars. -- Lara Deeb, author of "An Enchanted Modern: Gender and Public Piety in Shi'i Lebanon" I recommend this book with greatest enthusiasm. Norton is one of the premier--if not the premier--American authorities on Shi'i politics in Lebanon. Add to this the fact that he is a talented writer who can communicate complex ideas in a fluent, engaging, and accessible fashion. Telling quotes and anecdotes enliven the book and ground it. Norton is the rare academic whose expertise doesn't prevent him from communicating well with a general reader. -- Eva Bellin, Hunter College, City University of New York
Prologue 1 Chapter 1: Origins and Prehistory of Hezbollah 9 The Rise of Shi'i Politics from the Mid-twentieth Century to the Lebanese Civil War 14 The Role of Musa al-Sadr 18 The Resurgence of Amal 21 Chapter 2: The Founding of Hezbollah 27 The Iraq Connection 30 The 1982 Israeli Invasion 32 Hezbollah Emerges 34 The Hezbollah Worldview 35 Implementing the Design 41 Chapter 3: Being a Shi'i Muslim in the Twenty-first Century 47 Ritual and Identity 51 The Intersection of Ritual and Politics 58 Chapter 4: Resistance, Terrorism, and Violence in Lebanon 69 Hezbollah and Terrorism 75 Occupation in Southern Lebanon 79 The "Rules of the Game" 83 The 2000 Israeli Withdrawal 88 Chapter 5: Playing Politics 95 Hezbollah's Decision to Participate 98 Municipal Elections 103 The Revolt of the Hungry 105 The Rich Texture of Shi'i Institutions 107 Chapter 6: From Celebration to War 113 The Changing Social Tapestry in Post-Civil War Lebanon 120 Lebanon's Love-Hate Relationship with Rafiq Hariri, and His Assassination 124 Setting the Stage for War 132 The Start of Hostilities, July 2006 135 Prosecuting the War 137 Conclusion 145 Hezbollah in a Fractured Postwar Lebanon 152 What Next? 157 Afterword to the Paperback Edition 161 Glossary 173 Additional Reading 175 Sources Cited 181 Index 185 Acknowledgments 197
Augustus Richard Norton is professor of international relations and anthropology at Boston University. A former U.S. Army officer and West Point professor, he has conducted research in Lebanon for close to three decades.
"In this remarkably thorough, articulate portrait of Hezbollah, Norton ... analyzes how the organization was formed, how it evolved and its current role in Lebanese politics."--Publishers Weekly "Augustus Richard Norton's timely Hezbollah chronicles [a] dramatic evolution and its sweeping implications for the region and beyond. His lucid primer is the first serious reappraisal of the radical Shiite group since [the 2006] war shattered six years of relative calm on one of the world's most volatile frontiers."--Jonathan Finer, Washington Post Book World "Norton, who has been studying Lebanon, and especially the Lebanese Shiites, for longer than Hezbollah has been in existence ... offers here a brisk and balanced history ... of Hezbollah while situating the party in the larger Lebanese and regional contexts."--L. Carl Brown, Foreign Affairs "This short, authoritative book, based on first-hand experience, efficiently analyses [Hezbollah's] status."--Iain Finlayson, The Times "This excellent short history of Hezbollah ... demonstrates that dismissing it as a 'terrorist organization' is both glib and dishonest... Everyone who wants to understand the complexities of the Middle East, and particularly those of Lebanon and Israel, and wants to reach the truth beyond the political rhetoric, should read this book."--Bruce Elder, Sydney Morning Herald "How do you classify and develop policy toward an organization that has committed acts of terrorism in the past, that currently provides important social services ... that defends its country from occupation ... that plays by the rules in official Lebanese national politics? ... Norton elucidates these domestic and international complexities in Hezbollah: A Short History... With other similarly complex organizations on the rise, such as Hamas in Palestine, Norton provides a model of how we might begin to think through their multidimensional, seemingly contradictory natures."--Allen McDuffee, In These Times "In his new book Hezbollah, Augustus Richard Norton ... provides a succinct account of the group's rise from the chaos created by Israel's invasions and occupation of Lebanon in the late 1970s and early 1980s, which ended only in 2000. Mr. Norton also explores the origins and political orientation of the group, now led by the Shiite cleric Hasan Nasrallah, in a complex web of religious and political identities in Lebanon--with a special emphasis on the role of Shia Islam in the organization."--Richard Byrne, Chronicle of Higher Education "Augustus Richard Norton, an American academic and former U.S. army officer, has studied that Islamic fundamentalist organization since its formation. And now, in Hezbollah ... he offers a cogent analysis of its emergence and impact on Lebanese politics."--Sheldon Kirsher, Canadian Jewish News "The most fluent survey of Hezbollah to date. This extremely accessible yet scholarly read covers the Lebanese resistance group from its inception to the current Lebanese political crisis, aided by a collection of poignant photographs and maps."--Margeret Hall, Washington Report on Middle East Affairs "The many complex and often changing dimensions of Hizbullah are presented in the book in a clear, concise manner that allows for a more accurate and complete understanding of what the group represents and aspires to achieve...Wherever one may stand on this spectrum of views, a vital starting point--offered in this small but rich volume--is an accurate, comprehensive view of why Hizbullah has succeeded as a political party, a sectarian representational group, a social services agency, and a resistance force, and why it continues to generate so much opposition at the same time."--Rami G. Khouri, Daily Star "In an easily read, easily comprehended book, Norton traces the origins and history of Hezbollah... The twisting allegiances of the players, the role of Syria and other neighboring states, the emergence of discord and sectarianism as the young movement matured and began to intrude on the elected government, all take place in the pressure cooker of a land and people long torn, used by factions for their own purposes."--Suzi Brozman, Atlanta Jewish Times "In this highly informative, jargon-free book, Norton, one of America's top experts in Lebanese politics, provides an objective account of the genesis and development of Hezbollah, explaining its central role in contemporary Lebanon."--N. Entessar, Choice "The book is a must read for anyone wanting to have an idea of the Lebanese puzzle and the role played in it by one of the most interesting political actors emerging in the Middle East."--International Spectator "A good, concise survey by a perceptive student of the Lebanese Shia."--David Gardner, Financial Times "A dedicated researcher and writer, Norton has contacts all across Lebanon who are both his friends and informants. He writes with the same fluency about Shi'a religious customs as he does about Lebanese politics. The book comes with advance praise from scholars who tell us Norton has written an accessible and balanced account of a movement poorly understood by many in the United States who too often view the Middle East through the 'terrorist' lens."--Donna Robinson Divine, Democratiya "The book is a dynamic and multifaceted account... Overall, Norton's book balances international political factors with the local and regional conditions that shaped the outlook and activities of Hezbollah. Norton deserves praise for writing an insightful and multilayered work accessible to a wide and often uninformed readership."--Rula Abisaab, Journal of Palestine Studies "Norton has written a clear, concise history of Hezbollah with specific reference to its relevant sociopolitical context. Piquant anecdotes and richly textured details make the book enjoyable reading"--Kristian P. Alexander, Middle East Policy Council Fall "Norton's work is essential for those more concerned with an approach that rejects the rhetoric of the 'war on terror.' His historical and social analysis of Hezbollah's origin and subsequent evolution into its current manifestation is as objective an analysis as one can hope for--not to mention timely and fascinating."--Michael Teague, Al Jadid Magazine "Norton has done an impressive job by managing, in such a short book, to give a down-to-earth presentation of a complex organization."--Jorgen Jensehaugen, Journal of Peace Research
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