Multitrack Diplomacy and the Geneva Initiative

Abstract

Despite the efforts of state-led negotiations, the Israeli-Palestinian peace process is still at stake. Several factors destabilize the negotiations. Strong perception bias and deep-rooted, long-standing animosities and a constant exposure to violence constitute a barrier to dialogue, which in turn exacerbate impediments to peace. The complexity of different socioeconomic and political contexts in which the conflict unfolds, just as the lack of concerted efforts, would prevent the sustainability of any substantial achievement. While official diplomacy proved inefficient, when not ineffective, alternative diplomatic instances involving diverse actors might better influence the overall peace process. The present research focuses on such activities, adopting the concept of “multitrack diplomacy” as main object of analysis. The concept is an umbrella descriptor encompassing the variety of forms of interaction between nations and a broad range of actors, venues, objectives and methods to achieve peace. The thesis highlights the different conceptualizations of the issue, building on an interdisciplinary approach upon previous and concomitant research in the areas of sociology, psychology, law and conflict resolution studies for a qualitative, non-exhaustive understanding of the venues and effects of multitrack diplomacy. In a later stage, through the lenses of the gathered knowledge, the Geneva Initiative (2003) case study is contemplated. The case analysis critically questions to what extent and to which conditions this actually occurred.