Transformation possible or not
Reader comment on item: Can Hezbollah and Hamas Be Democratic?

Submitted by Werner (United States), Mar 22, 2005 at 14:10

Hezbollah and Hamas are not only terrorist organisations, they also do support their supporters in areas of medical treatment and social work.

Their base is often a mass of un- and misinformed people.

To simply negate their existence and deny their ability to transform into somewhat democratical will leave their supporters only in stronger ties to these groups.

A transformation of a group like Hezbollah and Hamas has not been done yet, but that does not mean it is impossible.

One way could be to educate and inform their base and tell them there are options.

Currently there are (ex-?) Taliban returning to Afghanistan. Their tribe elders vouch for them. It might be an interesting experiment and I believe much is to learn from it.

The Nazis had a lot of people in their party who joined because they had a better life through that. They weren't really hardcore Nazis by opportuniests. Many of them could be found decades later in democratic organisations.

I believe the matter is not as simple as one thinks

greetings

W.

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