Build Stronger Track-II Networks in the Absence of Governmental Negotiations

TRANSCEND MEMBERS, 5 Aug 2024

René Wadlow – TRANSCEND Media Service

2 Aug 2024 – The continuing armed conflict between the Russian Federation and Ukraine, the explosion of violence in the Middle East, tension-filled relations between China and Taiwan, and tensions between the two Korean States are all indications that armed violence, systematic repression, waves of hate and xenophobia are strong today.  There is a real danger that they will grow.  There is an accumulation of unresolved human rights violations which can lead to armed conflicts.  To meet these negative challenges, we who uphold the unity of the human family must organize ever more effectively.

There have been some efforts at mediation through the United Nations and by the leaders of individual States to encourage ceasefires and the start of negotiations in good faith, but with no visible results for the moment.

These governmental efforts can be called Track-I Diplomacy, the official governmental negotiations with the backup resources of governmental research and intelligence agencies.  There can also be Track-II “back channels” of informal contacts.

Track-II Diplomacy is a non-official effort, usually by an nongovernmental organization (NGO) with backup resources of academic institutions.  The use of non-official mediators is increasing in light of governmental inaction.  Track-II Diplomacy talks are discussions held by non-officials of conflicting parties in an attempt to clarify outstanding disputes and to explore the options for resolving them in settings that are less sensitive than those associated with formal negotiations.  The participants usually include scholars, senior journalists, former governmental officials, and former military officers.  They must be in close contact with national leaders and the secretariat of international organizations such as the U.N.

Track-II talks are convened specifically to foster international interaction regarding political issues dividing nations and to find ways to reduce these tensions.  In order to carry out these crucial Track-II tasks, NGOs must become stronger, have greater access to the media, increase their networks to more countries, and develop greater cooperation among themselves.  These challenges require a wise use of current resources, both financial and human as well as efforts to increase them.

There is a need to increase cooperation with universities and other academic institutions for background information and analysis.  Government representatives always look for factual errors in NGO presentations as a way to discredit the whole presentation.

Dialogue with the representatives of governments must be continued and, if possible, made more regular.  States will continue to be important agents in the world society.  Therefore, we must try to be in contact even when government actions are unreasonable, even criminal.

As Kenneth Boulding, a Quaker economist who often participated in Track-II efforts wrote:

“When Track-I will not do
We have to travel on Track-II.
But for results to be abiding
The Tracks must meet upon some siding.”  (1)

Note:

(1) Quoted in John W. McDonald with Noa Zanolli The Shifting Grounds of Conflict and Peacebuilding (Lanham, MD: Lexington Books, 2008).

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René Wadlow is a member of the TRANSCEND Network for Peace Development Environment. He is President of the Association of World Citizens, an international peace organization with consultative status with ECOSOC, the United Nations organ facilitating international cooperation and problem-solving in economic and social issues, and editor of Transnational Perspectives.

This article originally appeared on Transcend Media Service (TMS) on 5 Aug 2024.

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