Published in Foreign Policy, this article argues that Hezbollah’s continued refusal to disarm cannot be understood simply through the lens of sectarian loyalty. Instead, it highlights how popular support for the group among Lebanon’s Shiite communities is rooted in deeper grievances with a failing state – one that has long struggled to provide security, services, and economic stability. Against the backdrop of renewed regional conflict involving Israel and Iran, and a stalled Lebanese disarmament push, the piece shows how war, political fragmentation, and institutional weakness reinforce Hezbollah’s armed status, complicating efforts to assert state authority and achieve lasting stability.

Read the article