Norton

Augustus Richard Norton, professor of international relations and anthropology at Boston University and author of several books on the Middle East, including Hezbollah, is the next guest on One to One with Bill Goodman. The program airs Sunday, June 29 at 2/1 p.m. CT on KET1 and Tuesday, July 1 at 7:30/6:30 p.m. CT on KET2.

Norton’s research experience in the region spans nearly three decades, including residences in Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait and Lebanon. When he first visited Lebanon, Norton explains, Shi’a Muslims were just beginning to organize. Hezbollah, now a powerful political party and paramilitary organization in Lebanon, did not emerge until the 1980s, during the country’s bloody 15-year civil war.

Norton discusses the roots of Hezbollah’s popularity in Lebanon, including the group’s ability to identify itself as a resistance movement rather than a terrorist organization. He goes on to talk about Lebanon’s relationship with more powerful countries like Iran and the U.S. Norton also describes Lebanon’s fragmented political system and the political landscape of his current home, Egypt.

Finally, he suggests that the new presidential administration in the U.S. must adopt an aggressive diplomatic campaign in the Middle East, working with both friends and enemies.

One to One with Bill Goodman is a KET production, produced by Bill Goodman and Cindy Asher. Following the broadcast, One to One is available for on-demand videostream viewing at www.ket.org/onetoone and podcasting at www.ket.org/rss.