Talking to Groups that Use Terror.pdf - United States Institute of Peace

Step 1: Assess the Potential for Negotiations* * *If, after a thorough assessment of the advantages and disadvantages oftalking to terrorists, the terrorists’ willingness and ability to participate inconstructive negotiations, and the degree of support for talks within theinternational and domestic environments, the mediator or negotiatordecides that talks may, in fact, help advance a peace process, he or she canproceed to developing strategies that maximize prospects for success, asexplored in the next section.If the chances of success seem modest or slight, however, then themediator should probably avoid engagement on the grounds that to do sowould provide the terrorists with recognition and other political benefitswhile reaping little or nothing in return, in terms of reduced violence orenhanced understanding. Even a mediator who adamantly rejects thenotion that talking to an actor legitimizes that actor should be wary ofostracizing the terrorists’ targets and adversaries by engaging a PAG inwhat is likely to be a fruitless conversation. At most, perhaps, the mediatormight consider using “megaphone diplomacy” or other arms-lengthmethods so that the PAG understands what steps it must take before directtalks can begin.33