The wise prince in the defiant Sayyed. (c2011)

Abstract

Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah has proved to be one of Lebanon’s most influential political and religious figures in the country’s modern history. His influence has even surpassed Lebanese territories as people rallied in the streets of Egypt, Syria, Iran and other countries glorifying him for the 2006 “Divine Victory” over Israel. While he is adored by many, and even worshiped by some; his political rivals remain skeptical of him, detest him, fear him or at least fear his ideology and his party’s rising power in a weak state like Lebanon. Nasrallah has closely watched the development of Hezbollah since its formation and has contributed to its progress and disputed successes. Given the party’s ascending power and emergence as a major regional military player facing Israel, Nasrallah has become a leader with domestic, regional and international influence since he succeeded assassinated Secretary General Abbas al-Moussawi in 1992. This study delves into all the details of Nasrallah’s biography as well as his religious, ideological and political beliefs and practices. It aims to examine to what extent Nasrallah’s leadership traits resemble those of one of the well-known leadership models, The Prince of Niccolo Machiavelli. The comparison is made between Nasrallah as a person and the fictitious Prince in Machiavelli’s book. The study is aware of the limitations to this comparison such as the difference in time when The Prince was written, back in the 1500s, and modern times. It is also aware of another limitation which is the difference in the type of rule between Machiavelli’s principalities and Lebanon’s republic and as such between the position of Machiavelli’sPrince –as a country ruler- and that of Nasrallah- as a party leader. The study moves from the premise that Hezbollah is the principality ruled by Nasrallah. The study encompasses the following main sections: the acquisition of power, the qualities, the actions and achievements, and the military aspect. It concludes with the limitations to Nasrallah’s leadership which renders it impossible for him to have absolute power without any constraints.