The Hizbullah phenomenon
Subtitle: politics and communication
By: Lina Khatib and Dina Matar and Atef Alshaer
Contributors: Matar, Dina; Alshaer, Atef
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Published: 2014
Place of publication: New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 229
ISBN-13: 9780199384402
Subjects: Political parties; Politics and government; HISTORY / Middle East / General; POLITICAL SCIENCE / Political Process / Political Parties; SOCIAL SCIENCE / Media Studies; Hizballah (Lebanon)
Description: "Hizbullah is not only a leading political actor in Lebanon and a dynamic force in the Middle East, but it is also distinguished by a sophisticated communication strategy. From relatively humble beginnings in the 1980s, Hizbullah's political clout and its public perception have followed an upward trajectory, thanks to a political programme that blends military, social, economic and religious elements and adapts to changes in its environment. Its communication strategy is similarly adaptive, supporting the group's political objectives. Hizbullah's target audience has expanded to a regional and global viewership. Its projected identity, too, shifted from an Islamist resistance party opposed to Israel's presence in Lebanon to a key player within the Lebanese state. At the same time, Hizbullah's image has retained fixed features, including its image as an ally of Iran; its role as a resistance group (to Israel); and its original base as a religious party representative of the Lebanese Shiites. The authors of this book address how Hizbullah uses image, language and its charismatic leader, Hassan Nasrallah, to legitimise its political aims and ideology and appeal to different target groups"--

"Hizbullah's management of its image and identity are scrutinised by the authors alongside analysis of the movement's communication strategy, political behaviour and performance"--
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.