Peace talks are a way for leaders to address the root causes of conflict by engaging in serious negotiations. However, they can be difficult to initiate because of the strategic costs of wartime diplomacy and the perception that negotiators will favor their own interests over those of citizens or other conflict parties.
Talks can also be hampered by the difficulty of promoting security, good governance, and public goods in war-torn societies. While many people are accustomed to thinking that these goals are interrelated, it is important to recognize that it is often not possible to achieve all of them in one peace process.
The Egyptian-Israeli talks of 1978-1979 illustrate this point. Even after Carter secured Sadat’s consent to negotiate, the gap between Israeli and Palestinian positions on Gaza and the West Bank, the legal status of East Jerusalem, and other issues proved unbridgeable. Meanwhile, regional developments – especially the Iranian Revolution – distracted U.S. policymakers and undermined the momentum of the talks.
To overcome these challenges, peace talks must be carefully designed and facilitated. The first step is the exploration phase. During this phase, officials and citizens begin face-to-face dialogue to design an exploratory process that helps them better understand the other side’s perspectives and priorities. They also begin to assess the prospects for success. If the talks are going well, political support can be built for a commitment to continue. This is especially crucial when the parties are wary of engaging in peace negotiations because of perceived strategic costs.
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