Many Lebanese see Hezbollah as a threat to the nation

Lebanon is still without a president, and the country is more divided today than it has ever been since the end of its civil war. And even if Lebanese politicians agree on a consensus president, there is no guarantee this will solve the country's most divisive issue: Hezbollah's role and place in Lebanon.

Hezbollah has become the dominant voice of Lebanon's Shia – the country's largest religious community.

While it is widely credited with liberating the Lebanese south from Israeli occupation, opinion is much divided when it comes to its role today.

To its supporters, it is more than a party – it is an ideology, a social infrastructure and – perhaps most controversially – a military might that is necessary for Lebanon's protection. 

Zeina Awad travels to Hezbollah's heartland in Beirut and the south of Lebanon

To its critics, its weapons are a direct threat to Lebanese sovereignty; they cause unnecessary tension on the border with Israel. And many believe that its politics smack of Iranian influence.

But what is the driving force behind Hezbollah, the movement, its people, and its ideas?

Zeina Awad travels to Hezbollah heartland in Beirut's suburbs and the south of Lebanon – in search for some answers.

She spends time with critics and supporters of the movement – including a Hezbollah underground fighter and the family of a veteran Hezbollah member killed during last summer's war.

Watch part one of this episode of People & Power on Youtube

Watch part two of this episode of People & Power on Youtube