Democracy nowadays does not imply the same level of responsibility as it once were. It used to be an individual choice one paid for. Nowadays it morphed into a colletive punishment and is enforced by a majority of lunatics. Worse, “human nature” theorists believe we are all alike and all live on the same page of life experience, and they assume that the “generation of the good savage” is the real us and should rule. This body of corruption is called democracy for them.
“Winning heart and minds” has lead to more naïve mindset of the West: we think they worship our kindness when it is our goods, money and technology that they are after.
It’s a game of political flattery. In these wars and sports of stupid ideologies vs. other stupid ideologies, good intentioned ones are very dangerous... like calling brain or breast cancer cells an endangered specie.
Sorry, not buying it. Too simplistic and frankly too cynical. People, who at least believe they control their own destiny (whether or not it’s true) are far more willing to live peaceably with their neighbors than those who do not.