Hizbullah's Identity Construction

As the dominant political force in Lebanon and one of the most powerful post-Islamist organizations in the world, Hizbullah is a source of great controversy and uncertainty in the West. Despite the significant attention paid to this group by the media, the details of Hizbullahs evolution have frequently confounded politiciansand even scholars.

In this important study, Joseph Alagha, a scholar with unprecedented access to the organization, exhaustively and objectively analyzes Hizbullahs historical evolution and offers a revolutionary new perspective on the political phenomenon of the organization.Hizbullahs Identity Construction is a timely examination of one of the worlds most turbulent regions; a major contribution to the study of contemporary Islamic political movements in the Middle East; and a refreshing departure from the bland hagiographies and ad hominem attacks that are all too common in studies of Hizbullahs murky history.

Superbly documented and argued, and rooted in broad knowledge of contemporary Islamist political thought, this study brings much-needed clarity to a hot-button subject.Joseph Alagha remains one of the most thorough and careful analysts of Hizbullahs political ideology and practice. Scholars, analysts, and policy makers will find in this work a veritable treasure trove of research and insights into this complex organization.Michaelle Browers, Wake Forest University