Peace talks are the first step toward building a negotiated settlement to a conflict. They typically involve the formal exchange of commitments to negotiate a ceasefire agreement, as well as negotiations on substantive and procedural issues, which must be completed quickly to maintain the momentum of a peace process. Interim or preliminary agreements, which do not address procedural or structural issues, can also be used to relaunch a stalled peace process.
The structure of the peace talks is critical, as it influences whether and when an agreement can be reached. For instance, a legalized, transparent, and inclusive framework can alleviate the adversaries’ information asymmetry and commitment problems, and it can protect the negotiations from exogenous shocks and sporadic violence. Conversely, a nonlegalized, opaque, and exclusive framework can increase the risks for the negotiators by giving spoilers an easier opportunity to derail the negotiations.
Moreover, a negotiation framework can impact the size of the constituency to satisfy by introducing zealots or non-negotiables and increasing the number of potential compromises. Inclusiveness is crucial to achieving a durable peace. In addition, addressing root causes of the conflict is essential to build trust and create space for a broader political vision.
Finally, a mediator must have the right expertise and legitimacy to conduct the talks. It is often assumed that a neutral mediator with deep knowledge of the conflict is necessary, but in practice many mediation processes have been conducted by individuals and organizations with vested interests in one or more of the parties to the conflict.
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