Join MEI Scholar and Levant expert Randa Slim for a discussion about Hezbollah and its reaction to shifting regional dynamics in the wake of the Arab Spring. Although Lebanon has not experienced the same levels of unrest as its neighbors, Hezbollah is not immune from the regional instability resulting from the revolutions roiling the Middle East. Currently, Hezbollah is the principal orchestrator of a new governing coalition in Lebanon that is rife with internal divisions. The Special Tribunal for Lebanon, created to probe the assassination of Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, remains a faultline in Lebanese politics: a debate about the financing of the STL is threatening to undo Lebanon's cabinet entirely. Regionally, the ongoing Syrian revolts are undermining Hezbollah's "strategic depth" and jeopardizing one of its major weapons supply line. While Hezbollah officials have declared that the Assad regime is getting things under control, there is serious concern within Hezbollah's ranks that Syria might be heading toward a state of protracted civil strife. Given the complex set of circumstances, what are Hezbollah's domestic priorities? What is the impact of the Syrian revolution on Hezbollah's political calculus? How do the Arab uprisings impact Hezbollah's regional standing? Randa Slim will address these and other critical questions in her talk at MEI.
Speaker: Randa Slim