Hamas in Transition: The Failure of Sanctions

Abstract

Acknowledging the prevalent interrelationship between domestic democratization efforts and external conflict, this chapter discusses the nature of the political transformation process that Hamas has undergone regarding, first, participation in Palestinian national elections and, second, regarding the issue of negotiations and compromise with Israel. Finally, it explores how the massive European and international pressure on Hamas for unconditional concessions toward Israel has affected the internal political dynamics of the movement. The underlying key question is whether the EU's failure to respond positively to the chain of conciliatory steps undertaken by Hamas in effect hampered the transformation process toward political moderation that was set in motion by Hamas' parliamentary participation. In other words, has the confrontational policy of the EU nurtured or quelled the potential for further moderation of Hamas policies?