The relationship between track one and track two diplomacy Julian Hottinger (2005) Observing that both peace process and armed groups have become increasingly complex and heterogeneous, Julian Hottinger reviews the comparative advantages of – and complementarities between – track one and track two players’ engagement of armed groups. Track two can assist the process of understanding armed groups, help build the willingness and ability of armed groups to participate and keep lines of communication open; track one can provide political pressure, help and recognition. Hottinger reflects on the risks in complex peace processes, such as armed groups’ confusion over the status of different intermediaries, the need to assess when it is time to withdraw, and the need for better communication between actors. In conclusion Hottinger warns that theoretically neat distinctions between tracks are not necessarily reflected on the ground where distinctions are blurred.
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