COMMENT Now that the ceasefire is in place in Lebanon, the battle over reconstruction has begun and once again Hizbollah is emerging as the victor. Drawing on financial support from Iran, its grassroots social network and its reputation for honesty and effectiveness, the militant organisation is using the rebuilding effort to lock in its new popularity and status. Its post-conflict success raises yet another dilemma for Europeans and Americans, who want to help the Lebanese recover from the fighting but have no desire to work with radical Islamists or solidify their standing.
How has a terrorist group managed to pull off such a feat, performing functions that the Lebanese government cannot and establishing a de facto monopoly on local relief operations? By exploiting the opportunities afforded by civil society, supposedly one of the pillars of a healthy polity.
