Democracy requires an informed citizenry able to question its government.
Richard N. HaassRead
Terrorism needs to be de-legitimized in the way that slavery has been. Doing so will make governments and individuals think twice before becoming a party to terrorism; it should also make it less difficult to garner support for international action against those who nevertheless carry it out.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Terrorism should be viewed similarly to historical injustices like slavery to prevent its legitimization and encourage global action against it.
In this quote, Richard N. Haass emphasizes the importance of de-legitimizing terrorism in the same way that society has come to reject slavery. By changing the perception of terrorism and framing it as a socially unacceptable act, individuals and governments would be less likely to engage with or support terrorist actions. This shift in view can facilitate international cooperation to combat terrorism effectively.
Themes
TerrorismDe-LegitimizationSocial ChangeJusticeInternational Action
In practice
Example use cases
During a speech on international cooperation, one might reference this quote to highlight the importance of collective action against terrorism.
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