Hizballah as a Social Movement Organization: A Framing Approach

Abstract

Hizballah is more than just an armed group; it is a social movement organization. The article shows how framing theory can explain Hizballah's growing popularity in Lebanon. It follows David Snow and Robert Benford's division of framing into three categories: diagnostic, prognostic and motivational. Indeed, Hizballah has adopted certain diagnostic, prognostic and motivational frames in order to transmit messages to selected audiences. Its frames are not static, but rather flexible to changing political and socio-economic circumstances. In addition, Hizballah has endorsed the master frames of pan-Islamism, human rights and anti-globalization that could confer legitimacy to the group's aims.

Acknowledgements

The author would like to thank Professor Clark McCauley of Bryn Mawr College and the two anonymous referees for comments on early drafts.

Notes

¹ It should be noted that interviews were taken during a field trip in Lebanon in October 2008. Interviews were open-ended; most of them were conducted in Arabic and the responses to each question were translated into English with the help of a professional interpreter.

² Hizb al-Da'wa al-Islamiya (‘The Islamic Call Party’) was established in 1967 by Iraqi Shia leaders in order to create an Islamic state in Iraq. Currently, the party is led by the Iraqi Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki.

³ Strategic innovation would mean shifts that change the fundamental pattern of the group's challenge to state authorities (Dolnik, 2007).

⁴ It should be noted that the term ‘political Islam’ itself is disputed by some scholars who argue that given the state control over individuals' lives in Muslim countries, almost every Islamic practice becomes political; therefore the term ‘political Islam’ is simply irrelevant (Hirschkind, 1997: 12–14).

⁵ Personal communication with a rank-and-file Hizballah member (name withheld at his request), South Beirut, 28 Oct. 2008.

⁶ Personal communication with a rank-and-file Hizballah member (name withheld at his request), south Beirut, 28 Oct. 2008

⁷ Personal communication with Nawaf Mousawi, Head of International Relations, Hizb'allah, South Beirut, 22 Oct. 2008.

⁸ Personal communication with Imam Sayyed Muhammad Hussein Fadlullah, south Beirut, 29 Oct. 2008.

⁹ Personal communication with a pro-Hizballah Christian cleric (name withheld at his request), Marjeyroun, south Lebanon, 27 Oct. 2008.

¹⁰ Personal communication with a female Hizballah sympathizer (name withheld at her request), Marjeyroun, south Lebanon, 27 Oct. 2008.

¹¹ Personal communication with Nawaf Mousawi, head of international relations, Hizballah, South Beirut, 22 Oct. 2008.

¹² Personal communication with Professor Fawwaz Traboulsi, American University of Beirut, West Beirut, 28 Oct. 2008.