The Amal Movement

How has the Amal Movement transformed the role of Shi'a Muslims in Lebanese politics and society?

Plan

What is Amal?

Problèmatique

Shi'a in Lebanon Before Amal

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Internal Context

Political Revival

Shi'a After Emergence of Amal

External Context

What is Amal?

A Lebanese reformist political party affiliated with the Shi'a community

Founded as the "Movement of the Dispossessed" (Harakat al-Muhrumin) in 1974

Largest Shi'i party in Lebanese parliament with 13 seats to Hezbollah's 12

Shi'a in Lebanon

Before Amal

One of the most important Shi'a militias during Lebanese Civil War

Shi'a community did not present a united front

• Shi'a regions in the South and Beqaa mainly rural and geographically isolated
• Traditional leadership struggled with infighting

Had little political power

The Amal Movement

• kept from important political office in 1943 National Pact
• demographically significant, but insufficiently represented in office

Marginalised group

• central government neglected rural Shi'a regions
• most economically disadvantaged group in Lebanon

Kathy Fang

Political Revival

Mid-1960s, Shi'a became more politicised

Significant migration from the South and Beqaa to the capital Beirut

• forced by weak economic prospects and governmental neglect in the agrarian regions of Beqaa and the South
• contributed significantly to urban labour force
• raised Shi'a social status as they were now indispensable to the urban economy

Introduced to new social and political movements

• Palestinian and left-wing organisations
• identified with the Palestinian cause

• Palestinian guerrillas militarised the newly politically active Shi'a

Imam Musa al-Sadr

Iranian-Lebanese Shi'a cleric

Born in Qom, Iran June 4, 1928 from a long line of distinguished clerics

Amalgamated and mobilised Lebanese Shi'a in 1960s to use their demographic advantage to improve their economic and social conditions

Took on a leading role in Shi'a community

• carried on relative Sharafeddine's benevolent societies
• reduced migration to Beirut by improving rural social conditions

• 1967 established Supreme Islamic Shi'i Council to give Shi'a a voice in politics

Worried about Lebanese Shi'a taking on Palestinian problems

Emergence of Amal

1974: Imam Musa al-Sadr and MP Hussein al-Husseini founded Movement of the Dispossessed (later absorbed into Amal)

1975: al-Sadr announced an armed wing of the Movement of the Dispossessed to defend the people when the government fails

Afwaj al-Muqawamah al-Lubnaniyah or Lebanese Resistance Brigades

Changing relations with Palestinian movements

External Influences

1979 Iranian Revolution

• initially positive; Shi'a Lebanese identified with Palestinian cause
• shared the same bad social conditions and threat from Israel
• Amal's first militants were initially trained by PLO
• Amal took over many regions that were previously strong supporters of Palestinian movements
• 1978 and 1982 Israeli invasions saw al-Sadr's fears come true

• soon after al-Sadr's disappearance, Ayatollah Khomeini proved that it was possible to achieve a Shi'a Islamic state
• overthrown Shah of Iran was known for corruption and ties with West and Israel
• seen as an inspiration for Lebanese Shi'a, giving a source of transnational Shi'a identity

Syrian Support for Amal

Disappearance of al-Sadr in Libya

• Nabih Berri, leader of Amal after 1980 was strongly supported by the Assad regime
• brought greater Syrian influence into Lebanese politics
• Assad regime facing Sunni uprisings in their own territory
• wanted a counterweight to Sunni dominance in the region

• became rallying point for Shi'a in Lebanon
• created a social, political, religious void
• radicalised some Amal followers to create Hezbollah

Amal took Shi'a Muslims from a dispossessed and neglected community to the forefront of Lebanese politics

Amal gave a voice and a means of defense to Lebanese Shi'a

Created internal more division in Lebanese society, ending an imperfect but relatively peaceful status quo

Opened the door to external influence

Bibliography

Deeb, Marius. "Shia Movements in Lebanon: Their Formation, Ideology, Social Basis, and Links with Iran and Syria." Third World Quarterly 10.2 (1988): 683-98. Web. 18 Mar. 2016.

Hazran, Yusri. "The Shiite Community in Lebanon: From Marginalization to Ascendancy." Middle Eastern Brief. Crown Center for Middle Eastern Studies. Brandeis University. Web. 20 Mar. 2016.

Mouzahem, Haytham. "The Shias in Lebanon: A Short History." The Levant News. The Levant News, 12 May 2015. Web. 20 Mar. 2016.

Norton, Augustus R. Amal and the Shiʻa: Struggle for the Soul of Lebanon. Austin: U of Texas, 1987. Print.

Siklawi, Rami. "THE DYNAMICS OF THE AMAL MOVEMENT IN LEBANON 1975-90." Arab Studies Quarterly 32.1 (2012). JSTOR. Web. 18 Mar. 2016.