A Neoclassical Realist Understanding of Hezbollah’s Foreign Policies in the Syrian Civil War and Gaza War

Hezbollah’s involvement in the Syrian crisis and Gaza war is primarily scrutinised as an extension of the Iranian agenda in the region under the “Axis of Resistance” banner. Understanding Hezbollah as merely a proxy of Iran deprives us of a better understanding of the role of armed non-state actors in the region. A close reading of the two case studies reveals that Hezbollah has its own agency, and the nature of its involvement stems from its own assessment of the regional structure, its priorities, and its capabilities. The paper claims that Hezbollah, like several other armed non-state actors in the region, displays numerous trappings of statehood, rendering it more of a statelike actor than a non-state actor. With this in mind, its involvement in the two wars may be perceived as a foreign policy choice. In this respect, this paper aims to examine Hezbollah’s foreign policy drivers in Syria and Gaza under the prism of Neoclassical Realism. In order to do so, the paper will trace Hezbollah’s strategic culture and leadership's perception (intervening variables). The second part will examine the role of these variables in Hezbollah’s choice to become involved in the Syrian civil war, especially from 2011 to 2013. Contrary to Syria’s case, Hezbollah’s involvement in the Gaza war in 2023 was different in nature and scope. Hence, the third part will examine how these variables shaped Hezbollah’s decision and nature of involvement. The study’s objective is twofold: first, to highlight the explanatory power of Neoclassical Realism for our better understanding of the external behaviour of statelike actors in the Middle East, and second, to better assess Hezbollah and its foreign policy autonomy, challenging the perception that it operates as an Iranian proxy.