Non-State Actors in Middle East Politics

Abstract

The role of non-state actors (NSAs) in international relations has gained increased attention over the course of the past decade. This is especially so in the Middle East where armed non-state actors proliferated. This thesis pursues a better understanding of the factors that contributed to the rise and resilience of such non-state actors through a comparative analysis of two of the longest standing armed non-state actors in the region: Hezbollah and Hamas. The thesis examines how internal and contextual factors, as well as alliance choices, have impacted the ability of these armed NSAs to mobilize resources to grow and maintain an active role in Middle East geopolitics. It argues that the failure of existing state structures to respond to a perceived external threat (the independent variable), or lack thereof, was the most essential element giving way to the emergence and growth of both armed NSAs. Moreover, the two NSAs’ degree of success in mobilizing necessary popular and material resources while evading the constrains of the state-centric system (the intervening variable) determined their ability to continue to perform an external defense/deterrence function (the dependent variable).