Leiden University Student Repository

Cameron, Moira (2023)

Counterinsurgency Measures Moderating Radical Groups: A Case Study on Hizballah

Master thesis | Political Science (MSc)

Scholars tend to agree that moderation of radical groups stems from inclusionary tactics in the democratic process. However, there is evidence that counterinsurgency measures and exclusion could also facilitate moderation. Therefore, this paper asks: ‘How do foreign counterinsurgency measures facilitate moderation of radical groups?’ The case study of the Lebanese Islamist group Hizballah, the Party of God, will be used to test the theory on collective angst, fear, and survival concerns resulting from counterinsurgency measures. Through a qualitative approach of applying process tracing to primary and secondary sources, this paper finds support for the argument that collective angst as a result of foreign counterinsurgency results in radical groups moderating their ideology.

Moderation

Hizballah

counterinsurgency

exclusion

collective angst theory

Author

Cameron, Moira

Faculty

Faculty of Social & Behavioural Sciences

Specialisation

International Politics

Supervisors

RezaeeDaryakenari, B.

ECTS Credits

30

Language

en