The 1980s were a watershed in the history of the Shi’a community in Lebanon. From the attacks on Israeli forces in South Lebanon in the aftermath of the 1982 invasion, through the final withdrawal of the multinational force from Beirut in March 1984, the Shi’a have decisively thrust themselves into the international political arena. Majed Halawi explores the origins of this Shi’a movement and its determination to become a major participant in a sharply reformed Lebanese polity. The tale is rooted in Lebanon’s history and sociopolitical culture, in the seeds of its civil war, and in...