A Peace agreement is a set of rules that define how conflicts should be resolved. It includes substantive provisions that describe the outcomes of a violent conflict and procedural components that explain how those outcomes will be achieved. Peace agreements can also address social issues such as rights, gender, power sharing and nation building.
The design, structure and sequencing of a peace process often determines its success. How many actors are included, how the inclusion of non-state actors is managed and when spoilers can be excluded or brought into the peace process are critical issues to consider.
Often, protracted violent conflicts are motivated by a desire to control resources or gain recognition for cultural or religious identities. Political entrepreneurs will activate these identities as they build power bases and conduct war. As such, it is essential that peace processes and agreements recognize these identity-based motivations and include strategies for reconciliation in order to address the underlying causes of conflict.
In order for a peace agreement to be successful it needs to have a broad support base. This requires that all stakeholders – including those who did not participate in the peace negotiations – be able to see how it will benefit them. This can be difficult and requires a clear and transparent communication strategy.
It is also important for peace mediators to have the confidence of the parties they are negotiating with. This requires a certain level of trust and openness with the mediators as well as a willingness to share information and allow for discussion.
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