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Religion and Public Policy: Human Rights, Conflict, and Ethics, edited by Sumner B. Twiss, Marian Gh. Simion, Rodney L. Petersen (Cambridge University Press, 2015)


An Introduction to Multi-Track Diplomacy

#4 in series

Rev. Rodney Petersen, PhD

CMM Executive Director Emeritus


An enlarged understanding of the role of religion in today’s world is playing into a growing awareness of the importance of religion in matters of diplomacy. Religion plays a key role in conflict in Israel and Palestine and lies behind the anger exhibited by both Hamas and Israeli self-understanding. Religious self-understanding can also be seen to be a factor in the conflict between Ukraine and Russia.

 

Where there is a perceived imbalance in the distribution of economic, political and environmental or social resources (social injustice) that coincides with identity-group boundaries, there is potential for violence and for protracted conflict that will further devastate the communities involved. Given its role in framing the authenticity of different world views, religion can either contribute to regional peace or be used as an argument to justify conflict in the context of perceived injustices as happened in regional conflicts in recent years as well as in the “so-called,” “War on Terrorism.” The rift between religious ethics and international law finds reasons for engagement in such situations (William P. George, “Looking for a Global Ethic? Try International Law,” Religion and International Law by Mark W. James and Carolyn Evans eds. [Boston: Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, 2004]: 483-504).

 

Conflict theory outlines several approaches which often devolve into either conflict management or conflict resolution. Whereas the former implies taking action to keep a conflict from escalating further, the latter seeks to resolve incompatibilities, and such actions often lead to outcomes described as zero-sum, positive-sum, or negative-sum (Sharma Mantha, Handbook on Conflict Management Skills [Hyderabad, India: Centre for Good Governance, 2001]). Both approaches may necessitate the intervention of a third party. Such mediation may be necessary because of the breakdown of communication, an outbreak of violence or the intractability of parties in negotiation. Such intervention may be inter-personal, or it may happen at the group level. It may represent efforts to mediate among elites, middle-range leaders or grassroots actors, and be appropriate to the level of interaction (Lisa Schirich, The Little Book of Strategic Peacebuilding. A Vision and Framework for Peace with Justice [Intercourse, PA: Good Books, 2004]: 71).


We frequently think of third-party intervention in regional conflicts as coming from nation-states. This is the work of political or military leaders through official visits, policy statements, “coercive measures like sanctions, arbitration, power mediation,” or “non-coercive measures like facilitation, negotiation, mediation, fact-finding missions and ‘good offices” (Cordula Reimann, “Assessing the State-of-the-Art in Conflict Transformation,” in Martina Fischer and Beatrix Schmelzle {Eds.} Berghof Handbook for Conflict Transformation [Berlin: Berghof Research Center for Constructive Management, 2004]). This is Track I intervention, or diplomacy. It involves particular resources, positive as well as negative incentives, and can carry all of the coercive potentiality that a state or international organization can bring to bear upon a conflict.

 

Track II diplomacy has developed over the past half century, as a part of the growing NGO movement, and often in response to the unique regional conflicts that have broken open since the end of the Cold War (1989). American diplomat and public policy scholar Joseph Montville coined the term “track two diplomacy” in Foreign Policy Magazine (Winter, 1981-82) (William D. Davidson and Joseph V. Montville, “Foreign Policy According to Freud” in Foreign Policy No. 45 Winter, 1981-1982; Montville, The Arrow and the Olive Branch: A Case for Track Two Diplomacy. The Psychodynamics of International Relationships [Lexington, Mass.: Lexington Books, 1990]; and Montville, “Religion and Peacemaking,” in Raymond Helmick, S.J. and Rodney Petersen, Forgiveness and Reconciliation: Religion, Public Policy and Conflict Transformation [Philadelphia: Templeton Press, 2001]). The term was first used in an analysis of the field in a book by John W. McDonald, Conflict Resolution: Track Two Diplomacy (Washington, DC: Foreign Service Institute, 1987). Pioneered in concept even earlier among scholars like Herbert Kelman, Edward Azar, John Burton, John Galtung, it has grown considerably as a concept and a recognized form of diplomacy in building an atmosphere conducive to the work of reconciliation. Authors Davies and Kaufman argue that Track II diplomacy: “promotes an expansion of social capital as needed to move from the logic of mutual hostility and imposed solutions (zero- or negative-sum outcomes) to the integrative logic of peace building as a process of collectively addressing human needs, leading zero- or positive-sum outcomes that encourage buy-in by all parties and development of a self-sustaining democratic culture” (John Davies and Edward Kaufman “Second Track/Citizens’ Diplomacy: An Overview” in John Davies and Edward Kaufman (Eds.) Second Track/Citizen’s Diplomacy: Concepts and Techniques for Conflict Transformation [New York: Rowman & Littlefield, Inc., 2003]: 3).

 

Track II diplomacy can complement “first track” or official diplomacy in that it can initiate new opportunities for communication where little or none exists, foster cross-cultural understanding and pursue joint efforts at dialogue or action when official dialogue is blocked or absent. It can begin, build and enlarge upon official Track I diplomacy. Public policy and conflict mediators John Davies and Edward Kaufman write about the assets that such “citizens’ diplomacy” can bring to conflict in the following way: “Second track, or “citizens” diplomacy may be broadly defined as the bringing together of professionals, opinion leaders or other currently or potentially influential individuals from communities in conflict, without official representative status, to work together to understand better the dynamics underlying the conflict and how its transformation for sustainable development might be promoted (Davies & Kaufman, Second Track/Citizen’s Diplomacy, 2).

 

Track II diplomacy has been widely used, often with success, in numerous areas around the world. Policy analyst and mediator John W. McDonald cites examples with respect to the former Soviet Union, the PLO in Israel/Palestine and Northern Ireland (John W. McDonald, “Multi-Track Diplomacy,” in Guy Burgess and Heidi Burgess {Eds.} Beyond Intractability [Boulder, CO: Conflict Resolution Consortium: University of Colorado, 2003]: 52-54). It has made possible a constructive civil society in South Africa after the end of Apartheid. Many cases are documented by Peter Ackerman and Jack DuVall in their study, A Force More Powerful: A Century of Nonviolent Conflict (New York: St. Martin’s Press, 2000). An enlarged understanding of the role of religion in today’s world is playing into a growing awareness of the importance of religion in matters of diplomacy, specifically Track II diplomacy, not only in the U.S. but also within the European Centre for Conflict Prevention (Paul van Tongeren, Malin Brenk, Marte Hellema and Juliette Verhoeven, People Building Peace: Successful Stories of Civil Society [Boulder, CO: Lynne Rienner Publishers, 2005]). The Report issued by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, “Engaging with Religion in Conflict-Prone Settings,” finds room for just such additional activity and emerging partnerships in several cases cited in the report. Our world is ripe for a more profound understanding of religion whether it is in the Middle East, Eastern Europe, South Asia or elsewhere. Track II diplomacy must be fostered if we are to have a more peaceful world.

Rev. Dr. Mathew Ichihashi Potts on Forgiveness, Grief, and Re-Creation

Video recording of Rev. Dr. Mathew Ichihashi Potts on Forgiveness, Grief, and Re-Creation, speaking on June 9th for CMM's Dr. Alice Kidder Memorial Lecture held at the Eliot Church of Newton, UCC. Respondents included Maxine Lyons and Rev. Andrew Kimble, with musical selections from Lina Marcela Sarmiento Tellez and Daniel Lamadrid.

UPCOMING CMM EVENTS


Sunday, September 22nd, Boston Commemoration of the UN International Day of Peace, co-sponsored with the Friends Meeting in Cambridge and the Massachusetts Center for Native American Awareness. This year's theme is "Cultivating a Culture of Peace." Click here for past events. Location & time TBD.


Saturday & Sunday, November 2nd & 3rd, In Celebration of Rumi, with recitations of Rumi's poetry in Farsi and in English, along with a sema of whirling dervishes and the musical stylings of Orkestra Marhaba. Locations & times TBD. Click here for a recording from last fall.

A24 Presents SING SING (8/10 and 8/11). You and a guest are invited to attend a FREE screening of A24's SING SING, now in theaters.

 

  • Saturday, August 10th at 11 AM at AMC Boston Common 
  • Sunday, August 11th at 11 AM at Coolidge Corner Theater
  • Sunday, August 11th at 11 AM at AMC Boston Common

 

RSVP HERE: https://forms.gle/7yVjEd3LHnZSJTmp9

 

We recommend you arrive early as seating at the screening is not guaranteed and is on a first come, first served basis. We will send a confirmation email the day before the screening.

 

Synopsis: Divine G, imprisoned at Sing Sing Prison for a crime he didn’t commit, finds purpose by acting in a theater group alongside other incarcerated men in this story of resilience, humanity, and the transformative power of art. Starring Colman Domingo, Clarence Maclin, and Sean San José, and Paul Raci.

 

Rating: Rated R for language throughout.

Sing Sing | Official Trailer HD | A24

Chaplains on the Way (COTW) & First Parish in Waltham

Silent Auction & Community Barbecue

Sunday, September 15, 2024, 12-3pm (Rain or Shine)

50 Church St. Waltham, MA 02452

 

Suggested donations (via their online donation page): www.chaplainsontheway.us/donate

$10 per individual/ $30 per family (up to 6 family members).

Free admission for auction item contributors and the unhoused community.

 

Come help COTW to support the homeless in an event we are co-sponsoring. All you can eat barbecue with free live jazz, along with fabulous auction items generously donated by businesses in Waltham.

 

They are still looking for more items, so if you can donate them, please get in touch with COTW at info@chaplainsontheway.org

 

Their chaplains, well-trained college interns, and many devoted volunteers, are living out the mission by building trusting relationships with those experiencing homelessness, living in deep poverty, and who may be dealing with mental health or substance use challenges. The demand for their breakfast service for the homeless, interfaith services, support for the Waltham Community Leadership Group, end of life services, clothing, and referral services are expanding and are costly. In addition, these volunteers, interns, and chaplains make the work possible and even more relevant as they include, for example, groups that address grief and building resilience that provide comfort and healing to the community we all serve. They are looking for partner organizations who will alert their memberships about this important event and urge them to attend through their networks. COTW is facing a budget shortfall, and the success of this event will help fill in that gap to provide critical services, chaplaincy, and care to many of our unhoused friends. Please help us spread the word and attend!

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