Second Track Citizens' Diplomacy

Almost all current wars are primarily intra-state, involving complex societal conflicts with at least one party a non-state community. Second Track/ Citizens' Diplomacy is broadly defined as facilitated dialogue to address conflict issues between unofficial representatives or equivalent opinion leaders ?from communities in conflict. It is an essential complement to official (first track) diplomacy for responding to the enormous challenge that these complex conflicts pose to building a sustainable and dynamic peace.

In this volume, prominent contributors explain the development, theory and current practice of second track diplomacy. They examine the dynamics of modern complex conflicts, such as those in Sri Lanka, Israel/Palestine, Cyprus, or the Caucasus. Exploring innovative problem-solving methodologies, the book provides a detailed program for guiding "Partners in Conflict" in the search for common ground and analyzes core issues that arise in the practice and evaluation of second track diplomacy. This book will be valuable to both academics and professionals involved in first or second track diplomacy, or interested in integrative methods of dispute resolution or conflict prevention, as well as to those working in development, peace-building or humanitarian programs at any phase of the conflict cycle.

John L. Davies is co-director of the Partners in Conflict Project and senior research associate at the Center for International Development and Conflict Management, University of Maryland. He is a recent Board Member of the Forum on Early Warning and Early Response and consultant to the U.S. government’s State Failure Task Force.

Edward (Edy) Kaufman is the executive director of the Harry S. Truman Institute for the Advancement of Peace, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and senior research associate (and former director) of the Center for International Development and Conflict Management, University of Maryland.