Internal Reformist: Difference between revisions

The [['''Internal Reformist]]''', rather than going through the [[War Is Hell|horrors of war]] to topple the government, has made it their mission to change the system from within. Often they are [[The Last DJ]], seemingly the only honest man in a corrupt system, or at least the only one willing to do something about the problem. Such people, while sometimes effective, may however end up becoming [[He Who Fights Monsters|just as bad as the bureaucracy they are trying to change]]. They may attempt their reforms in a number of ways:

* The [[Internal Reformist]] uses the system against those in power, either by guile and subterfuge to hog-tie or trick those in charge into doing what's right, or playing by the systems rules and accumulating the power to put someone with better morals in charge, who can peacefully and lawfully make the changes required. Characters which try this usually have a certain amount of authority already within the hierarchy, and/or have powerful allies and intimate knowledge of how things are done within the system. They rely a great deal on secrecy to accomplish their goals, though invariably their enemies within the system start noticing who the big trouble makers on the inside are, and start putting things in their way even if they can't prove they are up to something with any substantial evidence.

* The [[Internal Reformist]] works towards bringing the worst of the [[Government Conspiracy|conspiracies]] to light in ways that will make it impossible for the status quot to be continued or the corruption to be covered up. Keep in mind that to create reform has to be the intent of the person to qualify for this Typing, if it's just a side-affect of solving some crime then it is not this trope. Those with this typing are usually in some kind of investigative field, such as a researcher, journalist, internal-affairs investigator, private-detective or law-enforcement, and rely on an illusion of being harmless to zip about and gather evidence under the noses of those in charge. This type tends to require the most secrecy of all, as particularly corrupt organizations might not having any problems with arranging an "accident" to bump them off, as these types tend to work alone or in small groups which are easy to dispose of.

* The [[Internal Reformist]] in effect uses Ghandi-style peaceful protest, refusing to participate in immoral or unlawful activities and continuing to do what's right no matter how much the system throws at them in an attempt to make them give in. In some ways these types can be the most dangerous, and the most conspicuous, type of reformist as they tend to attract a great deal of allies, who come out of the woodwork once someone demonstrates that it's possible to stand up for what you believe in. Usually these types start out low on the totem pole, though usually with some advantage others might not have. They tend to gain authority quickly, either because their competency forces the system to give it to them, or those in change are trying to break or cripple them under the pressure of such authority. Sometimes these type do break under the pressure or simply lose the will to openly oppose the system and continue to live their ideals with honor but in quiet.

Usually it is possible for an [[Internal Reformist]] to think they have a chance at changing the system because the system still has to answer to a higher authority, whether it be the public, who has no clue this is going on, or some other umbrella organization or system that is on the straight and narrow. The governments also tend to more or less take care of their people in a satisfactory way, otherwise the public would suspect all the corruption within and there would be some real rioting in the street-type activities, resulting an actual Revolution.

* In ''[[Discworld/Jingo|Jingo]]'', Vimes briefly wonders if he should have been a Type One [[Internal Reformist]] to Rust's regime, rather than throwing down his badge and storming out, before thinking "No. When had that ever worked?"