Policy briefs
Our policy briefs sum up the main lessons and insights
from each thematic or conflict-specific Accord publication. They are
a useful guide to inform peacemaking efforts from a conflict transformation
viewpoint.
They aim to help the international community better understand
and respond to the challenge of reaching workable peace settlements.
Read more about our policy work.
Themes
Peace process support strategies
Even though more wars have ended through negotiated agreements than
military victory since the 1990s, for many governments the
question of choosing 'all-out war' versus engaging in a political
settlement remains open. Our policy brief argues that governments and
international organizations need to give greater priority to supporting
peace processes and to place them at the heart of their overall strategy
for a country or region in conflict.
(November 2009)
Incentives, sanctions and conditionality in
peacemaking
From Darfur to Sri Lanka, policymakers often rely on incentives,
sanctions and conditionality to respond to the challenges of armed conflict.
They hope these tools can influence the parties' behaviour
and change the conflict dynamics. Yet external actors often overlook
their potential to effectively underpin - or undermine - a peace process.
This is mostly because conflict resolution is rarely the main policy
priority. Our policy
paper offers ways to improve policy and practice and outlines key
findings from Powers
of persuasion: incentives, sanctions and conditionality (Accord
issue 19, 2008).
Choosing to engage: armed groups and peace processes (updated October 2009)
Armed groups’ goals and use of violence spark much controversy about appropriate responses to their actions. Yet over the past two decades they have taken part in peace processes on every continent, resulting in a wealth of experiences. This policy paper covers the main lessons and insights emerging from some of these experiences as outlined by our authors in Choosing to engage: armed groups and peace processes (Accord issue 16, 2005).
Owning the process: public participation in peacemaking. Principles to guide policy and practice
This paper looks at why public
participation is necessary in the peacemaking process, the dilemmas of
an inclusive process and offers some principles to guide policy and practice.
It outlines recommendations on how to prepare for negotiations, participation
in formal political negotiations and in the implementation of agreements.
It accompanies the publication Owning the process: public participation in peacemaking (Accord issue 13, 2002).
Promoting public participation in peacemaking.
Recommendations for action at the UN
This document outlines recommendations for UN action to develop public participation in peacemaking. It was presented at the International Peace Academy policy forum in February 2003 by Catherine Barnes, issue editor of Owning the process: public participation in peacemaking (Accord issue 13, 2002).
Countries/regions
Peace
by piece: addressing Sudan's conflicts
Sudan has various interlocking armed conflicts that are being
addressed through three separate peace agreements. It remains unclear
if these agreements can now fit together as the jigsaw pieces of
a comprehensive, sustainable peace. This policy
paper offers
a summary of the findings from Peace
by piece: addressing Sudan’s conflicts (Accord issue 18,
2007). An Arabic version is
also available.
The limits of leadership: elites and societies in the Nagorny Karabakh peace process
International mediation efforts have yet to succeed in breaking the 10-year
deadlock in the Armenian-Azerbaijani struggle for sovereignty over
Nagorny Karabakh. Much needs to be learned about the structure of the
peace process, the roles of elites and societies and the costs of
the stalemate for democratization, development and regional integration.
This policy paper offers
a digest of findings from The
limits of leadership: elites and societies in the Nagorny Karabakh
peace process (Accord
issue 17, 2005). Russian
version also available.
From military peace to social justice? The Angolan peace process
This policy paper, also available
in Portuguese
offers some
insights on Angola’s recent past and current challenges. It assesses
the impact of Angola’s history of peacemaking efforts and approaches
to post-conflict reconstruction on the prospects for a peaceful, prosperous
and equitable society. It summarizes and builds on the lessons learned
from the publication From
military peace to social justice? The Angolan peace process (Accord
issue 15, 2004).
Alternatives to war: Colombia’s peace processes
Although a peace agreement remains elusive in Colombia, 25 years
of peace initiatives offer tremendous experience to inform peacemaking
policy and practice. This policy paper sets
out some lessons learned and offered by the various Colombian authors of Alternatives
to war: Colombia’s peace processes (Accord issue 14, 2004).
