Failings of the DPA
Laurie Nathan (2006)
Laurie Nathan explains the failure of the DPA in terms of the conflict parties' lack of engagement in serious negotiations. The reasons were lack of trust, divisions among the insurgents, a balance of power that reinforced intransigence on both sides, and the fact that the battlefield remained the key strategic arena for both sides. The international community used a form of deadline diplomacy to try to create pressure on the belligerent parties but unrealistic deadlines came and went without any negative repercussions; meanwhile the mediators required more time to help the protagonists to overcome their enmity and mistrust, build their confidence in negotiations and facilitate dialogue, bargaining and cooperative problem-solving.