Multiparty Mediation in Violent Conflict: Peacemaking Diplomacy in the Tajikistan Civil War

Description

This book presents a conceptual and empirical analysis of the UN-led multiparty mediation in the Tajikistan conflict. Multiparty mediation has been a significant research topic of international conflict management since the 1990s, but in-depth case studies on the peacemaking dynamics of violent conflicts are rare, particularly in regard to third-party roles. This volume addresses that gap in the literature by examining the multiparty mediation of the Tajikistan conflict, a largely forgotten but notably successful case of UN-orchestrated peacemaking in the post-Cold War era. It argues that several interrelated factors contributed to the "success" of the Tajik multiparty mediation: Russia, Iran, and other major interveners shared a common interest, and reached a broad consensus on the terms of settlement; the UN was widely accepted as a lead coordinator by other mediators, and succeeded in constructively engaging with them; as a consequence, there arose positive interconnections between different third-party roles. The book presents an analytical framework for understanding the complex interplay of these factors, not only to evaluate the Tajik case but also to help clarify policy implications for multiparty mediation in other cases of violent conflict, particularly civil wars. This book will be of much interest to students of conflict resolution, civil wars, international mediation, the UN, Central Asian politics, and International Relations. Cover Half Title Series Page Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Table of Contents List of illustrations Acknowledgments Chronology Map of Tajikistan 1 Introduction Posing the problem Analytical framework and plan of the book Multiplicity and variety of mediators and intermediary roles Mediators’ interest, cooperation, and coordination Complementarity and interconnectedness among intermediary roles Methodology of the book Organization of chapters Notes References 2 The Tajikistan conflict and early peacemaking efforts Section 1: the conflict in Tajikistan Section 2: prenegotiation Section 3: review of third-party roles Notes References News sources 3 The inter-Tajik negotiations and multiparty mediation Section 1: from April 1994 to December 1995 Section 2: from January 1996 to June 1997 Section 3: review of third-party roles Notes References News sources 4 Mediator interests, cooperation, and consensus Section 1: states Section 2: the UN and states Section 3: the UN and regional organizations Section 4: official and unofficial peace processes Section 5: international consensus and spoiler management Section 6: conclusion and summary Notes References News sources 5 Coordination in multiparty mediation Section 1: the UN as coordinator Section 2: the coordination mechanism at work Section 3: conclusion and summary References 6 Complementarity and interconnectedness Section 1: states Section 2: the UN and states Section 3: the UN and regional organizations Section 4: official and unofficial peace processes Section 5: conclusion: conceptualizing interconnectedness Note References News sources 7 Conclusions Section 1: internal and external dimensions of peacemaking Section 2: dilemmas, priorities, and sustainability Section 3: multiparty mediation in Tajikistan in perspective Notes References Index