Should we look at it as a patriotic and respectable party or a fascist network at the centre of Lebanese political life? Hezbollah intrigues all the more for the difficulty involved in studying it. Its weakening, if not demise, has been announced many times since its inception in the early 1980s. But the fact is that Hezbollah has never stopped growing in power, on the national stage as well as in a regional context.

This book has three purposes. It first gives a clear definition of Hezbollah, presenting a thorough history of the party, describing its established internal structure, and the scope of its social and political action. It then explains the evolution of the party's mobilisation. Finally, it illustrates another path, political but mainly identity-related - that of the Shiite community, today the main constituent of Lebanese society.

This rigorous and richly documented study, drawing on primary sources and hundreds of interviews with members, executives and officials of the party, unveils new aspects of this organisation, of the 'Hezbollah phenomenon' and of Lebanese politics at the turn of the twenty-first century.

'The definitive English-language academic resource on the Lebanese Shi'a group Hezbollah...A triumph of research, this work is highly recommended reading for anyone curious about Lebanese politics.' Choice

'Daher dispels a number of myths: that Hezbollah would be a state within a Lebanese state or that its principal goal is Islamic rule. Daher redefines the roles we traditionally attribute to Hezbollah, mouthpiece for the Shiite community, and dwells on its partners' or adversaries' perceptions of its activities. Offers a very complete picture.' Le Monde Diplomatique

'[Daher's] book offers a comprehensive historical and sociological analysis that stands out for its wealth of empirical detail and for its capacity to question stereotypical views on [Hezbollah].' International Affairs

'Daher offers unprecedented detail on Hezbollah's structure.' The Arab Weekly