123. Hezbollah: The Party of God

How did World War II break out in Asia in 1937? Why did Mao Zedong and his fellow communists live in caves after the Long March? How did the notorious Nanjing Massacre occur? ** Binge all six episodes of the series on Chairman Mao by joining the Empire Club today at ⁠empirepoduk. ...  Show more

Why did the communists and nationalists join forces with the USSR during the Chinese Civil War? When did the nationalists purge communists in what is known as the “White Terror”? Why did 80,000 communists walk across the country in the “Long March”, and how is this retreat refram ...  Show more

Some four decades ago, out of the chaos of the Lebanese civil war, a Shia militant group was born who would grow into one of the most dominant and malign forces in Lebanese politics. A proxy for Iran, staunchly opposed to Israel and aggressive in their aims, they have now effecti ...  Show more

Hezbollah buys grassroots support in Lebanon where and when it can, but the group turns to intimidation and even murder when a vocal opponent can’t be bought. Hezbollah’s elite, highly-secretive Unit 121 is the group’s death squad, which carries out assassinations of Lebanese pol ...  Show more

On today's episode we discuss the origins of Hezbollah, focusing on three key factors in its creation: Iran and Khomeini, The tenuous relationship between Palestinians in south Lebanon and the native Shia communities, as well as Israeli occupation and influence in southern Lebano ...  Show more

Discussion on Hezbollah, the Syrian regime and political impunity in Lebanon begins at 16:45. Nizar and Timour are joined this week by political researcher and commentator Ziad Majed to discuss the lack of accountability over political assassinations in Lebanon, the differences b ...  Show more