Dialogue and Conflict resolution - The potential and limits of dialogue as a tool for conflict resolution

Dialogue is typically hailed as a progressive force fostering mutual understanding and resolving conflicts. Can it really carry such a burden? Does dialogue really resolve conflicts?

In this unique volume international experts critically assess the political role of dialogue, addressing its potential and limitations. Bringing fascinating insights to bear they examine the theoretical underpinnings and conceptual boundaries of dialogue as a tool for conflict resolution. Major recent crises such as the Russo-Georgian war in 2008, the conflict between Western powers and Gaddafi’s Libya, arguments over Iran’s nuclear programme, religious tensions in Egypt after the Arab Spring, the Afghan case, the Sudanese experience and the recent Russo-Ukraine conflict are all considered and the conflict resolution attempts discussed. Using these cases the contributors explore in depth the nature of the dialogue between the actors, the extent to which it worked and what determined its impact.

Table of Contents

1 Introduction: Dialogue and conflict resolution
Pernille Rieker

2 Diplomacy and Dialogue
Ole Jacob Sending

3 The dysfunctions of non-party conflict diplomacy
Henrik Thune and Frida Nome

4 Dialogue in a World of Emotional Politics
Paul Saurette and Henrik Thune

5 What makes dialogue and diplomacy work or not? Russia – Georgia and Russia – Ukraine
Jakub M. Godzimirski

6 Nuclear Diplomacy: the Case of Iran
Sverre Lodgaard

7 Libya: The promise and pitfalls of diplomacy
Målfrid Braut-Hegghammer and Pernille Rieker

8 Peace dialogue, the Afghan case 2001–2014
Michael Semple

9 The attempts of dialogue in Sudan
John Ashworth

10 Dialogue as tool for addressing religious tensions: containing the violence, or true conflict resolution?
George Fahmi

11 Conclusions
Pernille Rieker and Henrik Thune