Using as its starting point the Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon, this article traces Hizballah's development from a radical resistance group known especially for suicide bombings and kidnappings to a highly professional guerrilla force and a political party with a broad constituency and pragmatic leadership. The author examines Hizballah's entry into politics in the early 1990s; its evolving relations with state actors, especially Syria and Iran; its conduct during and following the withdrawal; and its future prospects.

Augustus Richard Norton is a professor in the departments of anthropology and international relations at Boston University and the author of a number of books and monographs, including Hizballah of Lebanon: Extremist ideals vs Mundane Politics (New York: Council on Foreign Relations, 1999).