Lebanon and Hezbollah: From militia to political party

This thesis is a historical account on Lebanon's civil war from the National Pact in 1943, following the Lebanese civil war (1982-1990) to the assassination of Former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, focusing particularly on Hezbollah during Israeli-Palestinians conflict, Syrian occupation, and after the end of the civil war. It analyzes the role of Hezbollah as a resistance movement, a political party and a terrorist group (according to the United States). It examines the formation and development of Hezbollah in the context of the Lebanese confessional political system that rests on a delicate balance between the country's religious sects. It also explores the emergence and the impact of the Hezbollah militia in Lebanon and their impact on Lebanon's peace.