Walking between raindrops: Hizballah in Lebanon

The Lebanese Party of God or Hizballah is an illuminating case study in the evolution of a radical Islamist movement. Hizballah has pragmatically confronted the shifting political landscape of regional politics, as well as the changing terrain of Lebanese politics. It has retained its commitment to ending Israel's occupation in southern Lebanon but it has also entered the game of confessional politics in Lebanon, despite its earlier contempt for the prospect. Although the evolution of the Iranian regime has affected Hizballah, as has the hegemonic position of Syria vis‐à‐vis Lebanon, there is little doubt that Hizballah has proved itself responsive to the attitudes and aspirations of its domestic constituency. With Hizballah's entry into the political system, latent regional and ideological tensions and divisions have been revealed but these only serve to demonstrate the degree of transformation that has occurred.