Unofficial international conflict resolution: is there a track one and a half? Are there best practices?

Abstract

Analysis of twenty-four cases of unofficial international conflict resolution initiatives, done according to similarities across seven variables, shows that the practice of 'Track 1½' diplomacy is distinct from Track 2 diplomacy. Furthermore, these initiatives are distinguished by their focus on process or diverse goals. Multidimensional scaling organized the cases into four groupings of similar initiatives: Track 1½ process-focused, Track 1½ diversified, Track 2 process-focused, and Track 2 diversified. The variety of approaches used in these twenty-four cases of high-quality international conflict resolution initiatives suggests best practices. These practices should be considered sensitive to context rather than a standard set of procedures used regardless of conflict environment.