ABSTRACT
This chapter explores how Hizballah does come to acquire legitimacy within the Shi'a community and how does it exercise authority within that community. It provides an account of the 'microphysics of power' to overcome simplistic assumptions about Hizballah within the Lebanese arena. It explores the governance structure of Hizballah in order to present a framework for understanding the relationship between the leadership, various councils, and the institutions of the resistance society. The chapter considers Political Council to be primarily responsible for overseeing Hizballah's domestic political activities and relations with other communities in Lebanon. It explores the role of the hawza within the institutional matrix of the resistance society. Dina Matar argues that Hizballah's political communication strategies draw on both historical and cultural repertoires to produce a populist narrative that appeals to Lebanese, Arabs and Muslims alike. The Shura Council is an express of collective leadership in which choices are made through internal consultation, debate, and compromise.
