Peace Talks – Why It Is Important to Winnow Out Spoilers

In war-shattered societies, peace is usually seen as a long-term project that requires significant commitment from all stakeholders. The goals typically include security, public goods and services, good governance, and democratization. There is a wealth of empirical and theoretical evidence that addressing these goals is not simple, particularly in armed conflict situations.

Choosing the appropriate sequence of interventions requires a careful balance between urgency and the risk that pushing too hard for stability can backfire. It is important for donors to become involved at the right moment in the process and to have sufficient flexibility to respond to shifting circumstances.

Talks between conflict parties may be complicated by spoilers – individuals or factions who oppose the negotiated terms of an agreement and may resort to attacks against civilians or noncombatants (a form of terrorism) to derail the process. The best defense against spoilers is to strengthen moderate political alliances – sometimes forged out of power-sharing agreements – that are willing to speak out against violence and acts of retribution.

Some studies argue that a core part of the peace talks process is to aggressively test each party’s motives and winnow out spoilers. This approach may involve a mix of tough bargaining, threatening withdrawal from the process, and rewarding risk-takers that make peace possible. It may also include a mixture of formal and informal mechanisms to promote dialogue and cooperation among negotiating parties. While not all conflicts will require such a strategy, there are many reasons why it should be a key element of any peace process.