Inside Hezbollah : the al mahdi scouts between education and resistance

Dissertant

Tagliabue, Sofia Maria

Thesis advisor

Shoup, John

Comitee Members

Ross, Eric

University

Al Akhawayn University

Faculty

School of Humanities and Social Sciences

Department

North African and Middle Eastern Studies

University Country

Morocco

Degree

Master

Degree Date

2014

English Abstract

My thesis analyzes the role of Hezbollah’s social services in Lebanon through the case study of the Al Mahdi Scouts.

In particular, I research the role of this Scout group in Lebanese society, in the education of the youth, and in the construction of Hezbollah’s identity.

First, I investigate the Al Mahdi Scouts’ identity and nature, and I show how blurred is the distinction between education and indoctrination.

Then, through the content analysis of the Al Mahdi Scout Forum, I illustrate how the Al Mahdi Scouts create, frame and strengthen Hezbollah’s identity.

Aware of the more controversial issues regarding this apparatus, I show how considering it a mere recruitment tool is limitative, and I propose a more comprehensive and balanced evaluation.

The ultimate goal is to show how Hezbollah’s social and educational services ― like the Al Mahdi Scouts ― play an important role in Lebanon, how they participate in Hezbollah’s resistance, and how they contribute to its success and to the cohesiveness of its community

Main Subjects

Social Sciences (Multidisciplinary)

No. of Pages

133

Table of Contents

• APA
• MLA
• AMA

Language

English

Data Type

Arab Theses

Record ID

BIM-594063