ABSTRACT
During Lebanon’s civil war, Hezbollah developed vertical and horizontal networks that benefit the Shiite community in the country. In the post-conflict era, these networks have increased significantly. This chapter will describe the various services, welfare, and security provisions that Hezbollah provides to the Shiite community in Lebanon, which are symbolised as the sectarian patronage network. Through this sectarian patronage network, Hezbollah can gain political and electoral support from the Shiite community that receives benefits from the group as well as political support from non-Shiite communities which have allied with Hezbollah. This sectarian patronage network not only facilitates corruption but also impacts the social contract between citizens, particularly the Shiite community, and their government. As Hezbollah moves towards fulfilling the state’s role in service, welfare, and security provision this will weaken the legitimacy of the state in the eyes of the Shiite community in the country, which will then contribute to instability. Overall, this exploratory study thus posits that sectarian networks will cause a shift in the perceived legitimacy by citizens towards non-state actors or third parties that provide them provision when the state fails to do, which will lead to instability.
