Date of Graduation

Spring 2013

Degree

Master of Science in Defense and Strategic Studies

Department

Defense and Strategic Studies

Committee Chair

Robert Joseph

Abstract

Hezbollah is a terrorist group that threatens to destabilize the Middle East. The international community has considered many proposals and initiatives to affect the disarmament of Hezbollah and to encourage its participation in a political process aimed at resolving its stated concerns. Among these proposals, it has been suggested that the roadmap used to achieve the disarmament and political integration of the IRA could be applied to the Hezbollah case. This thesis argues that, while there are similarities between the IRA and Hezbollah that would make applying the IRA model an attractive option, a cultural comparison taking into account the role of Political Traditions, Experience, Values, Classical Texts, Defense Concepts, Economic Resources, Technological Base, and Generational Issues shows that applying this model would probably not be successful. Instead, to be successful, new approaches must be found that incorporate broad cultural understanding of these issues.

Keywords

Hezbollah, Irish Republican Army, strategic culture, culture, violent non-state actor

Subject Categories

Defense and Security Studies

Copyright

© Shayne Lee Martin

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