On negotiating peace: A compilation of strategic frameworks

The strategic frameworks were developed as part of Berghof Foundation’s project “Negotiation Support for Resistance and
Liberation Movements” (RLMs) (from roughly 2006 onwards). It offers negotiation training and process support to a number of RLMs around the world. The main objectives of the project are to improve the political conditions for ending violent conflicts by enhancing the negotiation capacities of actors who have fewer opportunities to learn and practice
their negotiation skills and have minimal exposure to international negotiation practice and theory. By enhancing their understanding and skills in negotiations, the project aspires to contribute to meaningful and sustainable negotiation processes.
Negotiation processes break down for a number of reasons, but one main reason is that RLMs find it difficult to manoeuvre in a terrain overshadowed by the asymmetric nature of many contemporary conflicts. Often multiple negotiations take place simultaneously – within the parties, with their and other constituencies – and in a dynamic and fluid reality, influenced by various factors and determinants. In addition, the negotiation process has its own philosophy and spirit, its own rules, procedures, tactics and techniques different from those in the battlefield. Consequently, the natural inclination of many movements is to either withdraw from the negotiation table, not to enter into a negotiation process at all or, in the face of lack of progress,to abandon the table altogether.
With this project, we wanted to create a space for RLMs to share and reflect on their own negotiation experiences, as well as learn from their peers’ experiences (both good and bad) and how they dealt with the challenges in their negotiations.