Behold Thine Enemy
Power and Politics in Hizbullah’s ʿAshura Rituals
In: Middle East Journal of Culture and CommunicationSearch for other papers by Sarah Hamdar in
Current site
Google Scholar
Abstract
The annual commemoration of Imam Hussein’s martyrdom has been a method of preserving the memory of the Karbala battle, but contemporary practices reflect a political dimension. This text focuses on Hizbullah’s public mourning commemorations and argues that the physical gatherings and their mediation are part of Hizbullah’s larger political communication strategy as they reflect power dynamics and emphasize the party’s political values. Accordingly, the article uncovers the role of the rituals in articulating territorial, religious and political power as well as supporters’ loyalty to Sayyed Nasrullah. It also demonstrates the significance of the rituals in emphasizing multiple nationalist discourses, expressing social and political ideals and providing a basis for interpreting political events. By drawing on Hussein’s martyrdom, Hizbullah utilizes ʿAshura as an empty or floating signifier whereby the party contemporizes the battle to suit its needs as it becomes the site of contemporary activist reinterpretation.
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| All Time | Past 365 days | Past 30 Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abstract Views | 421 | 139 | 20 |
| Full Text Views | 36 | 16 | 2 |
| PDF Views & Downloads | 83 | 34 | 4 |
Behold Thine Enemy
Power and Politics in Hizbullah’s ʿAshura Rituals
In: Middle East Journal of Culture and CommunicationSearch for other papers by Sarah Hamdar in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Abstract
The annual commemoration of Imam Hussein’s martyrdom has been a method of preserving the memory of the Karbala battle, but contemporary practices reflect a political dimension. This text focuses on Hizbullah’s public mourning commemorations and argues that the physical gatherings and their mediation are part of Hizbullah’s larger political communication strategy as they reflect power dynamics and emphasize the party’s political values. Accordingly, the article uncovers the role of the rituals in articulating territorial, religious and political power as well as supporters’ loyalty to Sayyed Nasrullah. It also demonstrates the significance of the rituals in emphasizing multiple nationalist discourses, expressing social and political ideals and providing a basis for interpreting political events. By drawing on Hussein’s martyrdom, Hizbullah utilizes ʿAshura as an empty or floating signifier whereby the party contemporizes the battle to suit its needs as it becomes the site of contemporary activist reinterpretation.
| All Time | Past 365 days | Past 30 Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abstract Views | 421 | 139 | 20 |
| Full Text Views | 36 | 16 | 2 |
| PDF Views & Downloads | 83 | 34 | 4 |
