Building Stronger Track-Two Networks
EDITORIAL, 12 Dec 2022
#775 | René Wadlow – TRANSCEND Media Service
The continuing armed conflict in Ukraine and the likelihood that the conflict will drag on through the winter–as well as armed conflicts in other parts of the world–forces us to ask if more can be done on the part of non-governmental organizations to encourage negotiations in good faith. Lengthy armed conflict severely weakens the social fabric of a country by destroying communities, engendering a culture of violence, and creating a sense of mistrust that makes collaboration within the society difficult to achieve.
There have been efforts through the United Nations and individual governments to encourage ceasefires and negotiations. It must be hoped that such governmental efforts will continue. These governmental efforts can be called Track-One. Track-One diplomacy is official government negotiations with their backup resources of research and intelligence agencies. Track-One can make formal proposals within the United Nations or in public declarations to other governments. There can also be Track-One “back channels” of informal or unofficial contacts.
Track-Two diplomacy is citizen-based efforts through research, policy proposals, mediation, and the creation of collaborative relations. Track-Two is a non-official effort, usually carried out by a non-governmental organization often in cooperation with academic institutions or at least with individuals in the peace research field. No non-governmental organization has the resources of a government. Thus Track-Two efforts must often work cooperatively in trans-frontier alliances.
Track-Two efforts are becoming increasingly important in world politics. Increasingly armed conflicts exist between a government and one or more non-governmental armed movements as we see in Yemen, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Kurds in Syria, the ethnic minorities in Myanmar. Governments are often reluctant to negotiate openly with such armed groups fearing to give them legitimacy or fearing to encourage action by other such armed movements. Yet peace negotiations require discussions with such groups. Track-Two efforts can be carried on in unofficial ways which governments can deny later if needs be.
The armed conflicts in former Yugoslavia highlighted the difficulties of non-governmental efforts at peacebuilding although the European Parliament had adopted a resolution in which it encouraged grassroots activities against the wars. These efforts were led by churches, educational institutions, and cultural centers. However, they had relatively little impact in stopping the violence. They may, however, have a more long-term role in building bridges across the resulting national and religious divides.
Preparing the ground among non-governmental representatives, peace researchers, and media personnel is an important task. Leadership rarely arises spontaneously. There is a need for preparation and training. There is also a need for continuity. There are rarely sudden victories in Track-Two efforts. One must be ready to try again the next day. There is also a need to keep doors open to government representatives. As the Quaker economist and peace worker Kenneth Boulding wrote:
“When Track-One will not do,
We have to travel on Track-Two.
But for results to be abiding,
The Tracks must meet upon some siding.”
NOTES:
Hussein Agha, Shai Feldman, Ahmad Khahdi, Zeev Schiff. Track II Diplomacy: Lessons from the Middle East (Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2003)
John Davies and Eddy Kaufman. Second Track/Citizen’s Diplomacy: Concepts and Techniques for Conflict (Lanham. MD: Rowman and Litlefield, 2002)
W.E.De Mars. NGOs and Transnational Networks (London: Pluto Press, 2005)
P. Willets (Ed.) The Conscience of the World: The Influence of NGOs in the UN System (London: Hurst, 1996)
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René Wadlow is a member of the TRANSCEND Network for Peace Development Environment. He is President of the Association of World Citizens, an international peace organization with consultative status with ECOSOC, the United Nations organ facilitating international cooperation and problem-solving in economic and social issues, and editor of Transnational Perspectives.
Tags: Conflict Mediation, Diplomacy, Mediation, Peace Building, Track I, Track II, Warfare
This article originally appeared on Transcend Media Service (TMS) on 12 Dec 2022.
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Dear Rene,
Your recent Transcend contribution above, is both a clear and compelling message to other NPO’s and individuals working towards a more hopeful and sustainable future during these times of multi-crises worldwide.
This two-way method would offer a main path to healing our wounded and suffering societies. Particularly if the “governments” are global, inclusive, open to new paths towards peace, as opposed to more roads towards war, and understand the existential threats we all now face.
The best defense is diplomacy. One wonders what happened to that concept.
The only other method that one can suggest would be a multi-way network, which would include specialists in a wide range of fields, including conflict transformation, climate change, refugee related issues, virus spread, increasing wealth imbalance, nuclear (both military and domestic) issues, and other fields.
Having read about your suggestion that the structure of the United Nations must be changed, this seemingly is seen as necessary by many. It needs to be supported by an inspirational and compelling mission as soon as is possible. A mission that would include those that have researched this field, including constitutional legal matters and those who have already contributed to a restructuring of a future U.N. in ways that seem both tenable, globally minded, and far-sighted.
As this is being written, each hour of each day our world is facing the ever-more distinct possibility of a catastrophe on an imaginable scale. It could occur tonight, as half of us are asleep, or within coming days, months, but seemingly, not so very many more years.
As we approach the “new” year, one wonders if it will take a more tragic yet less devastating example for the Homo Sapiens to become Human Beings, while also become more Humanly-centric individuals.
For, to Be is to exist.
While to Act, particularly for the sake of others, and whenever possible ― for Humanity, is what makes Human Beings.
With appreciation for your thoughts and inspirations,
Sincerely,
Robert
Kyoto, Japan