Peace talks are negotiations between the parties to a conflict that lead to the resolution of that conflict through an agreed-upon treaty. This agreement may be an international treaty that covers all of the issues in the conflict or it can be a series of separate agreements between each of the dyads in the conflict. Peace negotiations can also involve other actors that are not directly involved in the conflict such as mediators, neighboring countries, political parties, NGOs, and guarantors.
The goal of a peace settlement is often the promotion of security, good governance, public goods provision, and/or democratization in war-torn societies. However, a wealth of empirical evidence shows that these goals are often in tension and that it is difficult to reconcile them. It is especially challenging to overcome ingrained social networks and habits of behavior that prioritize narrow, selfish, partisan interest.
Dr Kingsbury says that a lack of political will can often hinder the success of peace talks. In the case of Israel-Hamas, he believes that the Israeli government appears to be seeking a military victory against Hamas instead of a lasting peace.
He says that the most successful peace talks are those that get to the root causes of a conflict. This is why it’s so important for those who are working towards peace to be able to hear all sides and not just what they want to hear. He adds that peace talks can be extremely tense, which can further challenge negotiators.