Conducting Track II Peace Making
By Heidi Burgess and Guy Burgess, instructors in communication
United States Institute of Peace
Although international conflicts have never been simple, the international and internal conflicts of the post–Cold War world tend to be especially complex. They typically involve ethnic disputes; many actors; numerous apparently incompatible interests and needs; long, violent histories; and complex international entanglements.
Confronted by intractable conflicts whose roots extend deep into the fabric of society, lone mediators (or even teams of mediators) have seldom been able to make and keep the peace. Nor have military forces, by themselves, been particularly successful in such situations.
In recognition of the nature and scale of the challenge, national and multinational actors have begun to launch “complex operations”—loosely coordinated peace efforts that involve not only diplomats and soldiers but also development specialists, human-rights activists, trauma-healing practitioners, humanitarian relief workers, and conflict resolution experts.
In the conflict-resolution realm, “track II” peacemaking or diplomacy has become increasingly common, complementing “track I” peacemaking efforts in myriad ways and at various points throughout a peace process. Track II practitioners bring parties together across conflict lines to talk, build relationships, engage in joint civic projects, or even develop new ideas about potential political solutions to the conflict.
Track II efforts can be particularly valuable in preparing the ground for track I initiatives and building broad support for agreements reached by the parties, but track II can also be valuable if conducted simultaneously with track I efforts.
Written for both track I and track II actors, this handbook:
Illuminates the role and importance of track II activities;
Charts a wide range of track II activities, from assessment, conception and planning through to implementation and evaluation; and,
Discusses the need to ensure that different peacemaking efforts support and reinforce one another.
This volume is the seventh in the Peacemaker’s Toolkit series. Each handbook addresses a facet of the work of mediating violent conflicts, including such topics as negotiations with terrorists, constitution making, assessing and enhancing ripeness and debriefing mediators.
United States Institute of Peace
Although international conflicts have never been simple, the international and internal conflicts of the post–Cold War world tend to be especially complex. They typically involve ethnic disputes; many actors; numerous apparently incompatible interests and needs; long, violent histories; and complex international entanglements.
Confronted by intractable conflicts whose roots extend deep into the fabric of society, lone mediators (or even teams of mediators) have seldom been able to make and keep the peace. Nor have military forces, by themselves, been particularly successful in such situations.
In recognition of the nature and scale of the challenge, national and multinational actors have begun to launch “complex operations”—loosely coordinated peace efforts that involve not only diplomats and soldiers but also development specialists, human-rights activists, trauma-healing practitioners, humanitarian relief workers, and conflict resolution experts.
In the conflict-resolution realm, “track II” peacemaking or diplomacy has become increasingly common, complementing “track I” peacemaking efforts in myriad ways and at various points throughout a peace process. Track II practitioners bring parties together across conflict lines to talk, build relationships, engage in joint civic projects, or even develop new ideas about potential political solutions to the conflict.
Track II efforts can be particularly valuable in preparing the ground for track I initiatives and building broad support for agreements reached by the parties, but track II can also be valuable if conducted simultaneously with track I efforts.
Written for both track I and track II actors, this handbook:
Illuminates the role and importance of track II activities;
Charts a wide range of track II activities, from assessment, conception and planning through to implementation and evaluation; and,
Discusses the need to ensure that different peacemaking efforts support and reinforce one another.
This volume is the seventh in the Peacemaker’s Toolkit series. Each handbook addresses a facet of the work of mediating violent conflicts, including such topics as negotiations with terrorists, constitution making, assessing and enhancing ripeness and debriefing mediators.