Peace Process or War Process: Implications for a future democratic state.

Submitted by Daphne Burdman (Israel), Sep 22, 2009 at 04:34

Having published on psychological aspects of indoctrination (Terrorism and Political Violence: Vol.15, No.1, Spring 2003 pp96-123), I naturally turned to interest in issues of de-indoctrination.

In view of the present-day formidable predominantly religious-based Palestinian indoctrination, I believe that the model of the relatively successful Post World War II Allied Forces re-education is apposite here, although even more complex.

It is clear that the eventual success of the Allied programs in creating viable democracies was predicated on total surrender of wartime Germany and Japan. Psychologists and psychiatrists recognize that increased flexibility of thought, and readiness to accept change, occurs in states of crisis, which would include national surrender. This together with the dynamics of the post-WWII situations has led to relative success of Allied re-education programs.

The WWII situation parallels the complexities of the Palestinian situation which Daniel Pipes has so thoroughly identified. For these reasons I absolutely, but sadly, agree with his inescapable conclusions.

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