As Lebanon suffers from a collapsing economy and an institutional void, recent developments point to an important bifurcation: Hezbollah’s aggressive widening of power is causing a growing popular discontent toward both the group and its Iranian sponsor. Can Hezbollah sustain its control as its growing influence and unpopularity converge? What are its long-range plans? And what policy opportunities does this situation present to Washington?

Hanin Ghaddar is the Friedmann Senior Fellow in The Washington Institute's Linda and Tony Rubin Program on Arab Politics, where she focuses on Shia politics throughout the Levant. She has written for the Lebanese newspapers As-Safir, An-Nahar, and Al-Hayat, and has worked as a researcher for the United Nations Development Program regional office. Ms. Ghaddar holds a BA in English literature and an MA in Middle East studies, both from the American University of Beirut.