Hezbollah, or “Party of God” in arabic, is a fundamental Shi’ite Islamist militant group
and political party based in Lebanon. Since Hezbollah’s inception in the early 1980’s as a
reactionary militant group, the group has since gained significant power and legitimacy as
a Lebanese political party. In order to better how a group once known for jihad and
religious extremism transitioned into a legitimized Lebanese political party, it’s important
to look at Hezbollah’s background, as well as their political developments and influences,
political contributions, achievements, and their ideology as an organization.
Hezbollah was formed in reaction to the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982, and the
group functioned primarily as a resistance to Israel’s ongoing occupation (Abdullah et al.
2014). The basis for the formation of Hezbollah, however, lies in the centuries of
oppression and exploitation of Lebanese Shi’ites by the Sunni Muslims and Maronite
Christians (Byman 2011, 918). The Lebanese civil war and the Israeli occupation of
Lebanon united Lebanese Shi’ites and gave them a common goal, culminating in the
formation of Hezbollah. The Hezbollah were among the first islamic militant groups to
engage in guerrilla warfare or use jihad tactics such as suicide bombings (Avon and
Khatchadourian 2012) . Their extreme methods made them the face of global terrorism,
and were until very recently, classified as a terrorist organization in many nations
worldwide. Using their extreme techniques, and with backing from Iran and Syria, the
Hezbollah saw eventual success in ending the Israeli occupation of Lebanon
Hezbollah has developed significantly as an organization. Hezbollah is somewhat unique,
in that it is relatively rare for a reactionary militant group based on religious
fundamentalism to transition into one of the most powerful political organizations in
Lebanon in only three decades. Hezbollah’s transition, according to Alagha (2006) “went
from propogating an exclusivist religious ideology; to a more encompassing political
ideology; and to what can be considered to be a pragmatic political program.” In
Hezbollah’s early stages, they declared allegiance to Ayatollah Khomeini. Their primary
focus as an organization was founded in Islamic fundamentalism and fueled by extremism.
Violence and jihadism were heavily used in their efforts to liberate Lebanon and Palestine
and bring about an Islamic revolution in Lebanon (Saouli 2011, 932). Following the end of
the Lebanese civil war, Hezbollah sought to retain power and legitimacy as an
organization. They began focusing their efforts on establishing themselves in the Lebanese
political system. Hezbollah shifted much of its effort from religious fundamentalism and
