Peace talks are a key element of conflict prevention and resolution, but they can fail when their participants do not understand how to make them work. This article offers five critical lessons from the past that can help peacemakers make them more effective.
The first is the importance of prior preparations. In particular, resolving differences among key players within a mediation team is important. The American experience shows that resolving differences early in the process improves the chances of a successful outcome. The second lesson is the need to involve more stakeholders in the negotiations. Peace talks that include civic voices and armed actors are more likely to succeed than those that do not. Moreover, it is essential to ensure that women are included in all aspects of the negotiation process. This requires ensuring that a gender advisor is part of the mediation team and that technical experts, including those in the area of political analysis, are trained on the gender implications of their work.
Third, a mediator needs to know how to engage the parties. This involves recognizing the power dynamics in a dispute and taking the time to develop relationships with the leaders. In addition, it is important to identify what issues are most likely to be obstacles and to consider how to address them. For example, it is often important to weigh the trade-offs of focusing on security reform or on amnesty and disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR) programs.