Peace talks are a critical component of the global effort to reduce armed conflict. Very few conflicts are resolved on the battlefield, and even when a ceasefire is achieved, peace agreements don’t always last. Peace negotiations can be challenging, complex, and fraught with tensions. But what are the keys to success? Senior Lecturer in International Law at The University of Western Australia, Dr Philipp Kastner discusses some important considerations that can increase the chances of a successful outcome.
In a wartime context, leaders of both sides tend to worry that engaging in peace talks would be seen as a sign of weakness by the enemy. This is why, according to Stanford University political scientist Oriana Skylar Mastro, many efforts at starting peace talks in a wartime situation fail.
It can also be difficult to find a time when both sides feel ready for negotiations and are willing to engage in them. This can be a challenge when the enemy is advancing, or when there are significant losses from continuing fighting.
It is possible to overcome these challenges by building the capacity of state supporters for the peace process, especially in the Global South. This can include strengthening the informal expert groups and networks that have historically supported the work of mediators and civil society organisations preparing for negotiations, as well as setting up institutionalised diplomatic coordination mechanisms among state actors who support the process. The preparation of thematic non-papers, which outline the key issues to be discussed in the negotiations, and capacity-building exercises are two specific areas where this can be done.
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