HizbT̤allah in Lebanon : the politics of the Western hostage crisis

The abduction of Western citizens by Hizb'Allah was motivated either by internal organisational requirements or in alignment with Syrian and Iranian interests, and mechanisms for the resolution of the hostage-crisis were subject to continuous interaction between Hizb'Allah, Iran, and Syria influenced by internal Lebanese, regional, and international events. The Western responses to the hostage-crisis showed limited effectiveness as the crisis management techniques were poorly adjusted in timing and direction to the actual crisis environment. With the exception of the French response, the overall employment of Western crisis management techniques showed disregard for the opportunities and constraints in the fluctuating relationship between Syria and Iran as well as the political environment within Lebanon which the Hizb'allah operates and exists. This was clear by their failure to rely on either Iran or Syria as the only channel in negotiations over hostages without regard to their individual ability to exert its influence over the Lebanese movement in accordance with shifts in their ties to Hizb'allah's command leadership between 1987-1991 and to the status of the Iranian-Syrian relationship over time, as displayed by the friction between 1986-92. This study provides a new approach in the study of terrorism by merging a case-study of the dynamics of the Lebanese hostage-crisis with an evaluation of Western responses through crisis management techniques in order to more closely resolve the dilemma of the fulfilment of these states' duty to protect their citizens taken hostage abroad, without major sacrifices in the conduct of foreign policy. The Lebanese Hizb'alla Organisation And Its Involvement In The Abduction Of Western Citizens Is A Complex Subject Veiled In Secrecy Which Plagued The Conduct Of Foreign Policy For Most Western Governments For Over A Decade. The West's Chequered Response To The Hostage-crisis Underlines The Dilemma Of The Fulfilment Of These State's Duty To Protect Their Citizens Taken Hostage Abroad Without Major Sacrifices In The Conduct Of Foreign Policy. This Study Demonstrates That The Abduction Of Western Citzens By The Hizb'allah Was Motivated Either By Internal Organisational Requirements Or In Alignment With Syrian And Iranian Interests And That Mechanisms For The Resolution Of The Hostage-crisis Were Subject To Continuous Interaction Between Hizb'allah, Iran, And Syria, Influenced By Internal Lebanese, Regional And International Events.--publisher Description. Foreword / Terry Waite -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Background To The Formation Of The Hizb'allah In Lebanon -- 3. Hizb'allah And The Hostage-crisis Within Lebanon -- 4. The Influence Of The Iranian-syrian Relationship On The Hizb'allah -- 5. Western Responses To The Hostage-crisis And Crisis Management -- 6. Conclusions. Magnus Ranstorp ; Foreword By Terry Waite. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 241-248) And Index.

the Lebanese Hizb'alla Organisation And Its Involvement In The Abduction Of Western Citizens Is A Complex Subject Veiled In Secrecy Which Plagued The Conduct Of Foreign Policy For Most Western Governments For Over A Decade. The West's Chequered Response To The Hostage-crisis Underlines The Dilemma Of The Fulfilment Of These State's Duty To Protect Their Citizens Taken Hostage Abroad Without Major Sacrifices In The Conduct Of Foreign Policy. This Study Demonstrates That The Abduction Of Western Citzens By The Hizb'allah Was Motivated Either By Internal Organisational Requirements Or In Alignment With Syrian And Iranian Interests And That Mechanisms For The Resolution Of The Hostage-crisis Were Subject To Continuous Interaction Between Hizb'allah, Iran, And Syria, Influenced By Internal Lebanese, Regional And International Events.

Provides a examination of terrorism by merging a case-study of the dynamics of the Lebanese hostage crisis with an evaluation of Western responses through crisis management techniques in order to resolve the dilemma of the fulfilment of these states' duty to protect their citizens abroad