Complementarity and coordination of conflict resolution efforts in the conflicts over Abkhazia, South Ossetia, and Transdniestria

The complementarity and coordination of multiple conflict resolution initiatives within the peace processes surrounding the conflicts over Abkhazia, South Ossetia, and Transdniestria are examined through a focused comparative case study research design of post-war peace building in these three post-Soviet inter-group conflicts. Building on a contingency approach to conflict analysis and resolution and work by David Bloomfield, Ronald Fisher, Loraleigh Keashly, Louis Kriesberg, and Christopher Mitchell, the research reports dynamics of conflict resolution efforts, their complementarity, and coordination noted by interviewees. 133 conflict resolution participants, practitioners, and funders involved in three peace processes completed semi-structured interviews between fall 1997 and summer 1998. With particular emphasis on second track diplomacy, the separate conflict resolution initiatives undertaken in each case between the end of each war and May 1998 are surveyed, their major effects noted, and any interactive effects systematically documented. These findings center on separate conflict resolution efforts that together address aspects of the conflict and contribute to an overall peace process that is more than the sum of its parts. The results suggest that separate conflict resolution efforts can and do affect the subjective, objective, and procedural aspects of conflict over time, through developing a multifaceted peace process of official negotiations, mid-level peace building and grass roots confidence building. Long-term unofficial facilitated joint analysis amongst negotiators is found to offer particularly direct complementarity to official negotiations. The results are summarized in working frameworks of complementarity and coordination dynamics, integrated with existing literature on complementarity and coordination. Finally, the results suggest guidelines for improved conflict resolution practice in multiple intervenor contexts, as well as suggesting related areas requiring additional research.