Shiites

The struggle over the character of the Shiite community in Lebanon has been going on for decades. Senior clerics have presented an alternative to the concept of 'Velayat-e Faqih' (Guardianship of the Jurist), maintained independence from Iran, and opposed Hezbollah. Behind the political dispute lies a deep struggle over the question: who is authorized to speak on behalf of the Shiites in Lebanon?

It operates not through uniform and continuous use of force, but by creating a hierarchy of costs and instilling the knowledge that they may be applied. Its goal is not only to silence existing voices, but to prevent in advance the formation of political, religious, and social centers of authority that could compete with Hezbollah for the right to speak on behalf of the Shiite community.