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

Step 2Design a Strategy forEngagementIf Step 1 indicates that it is worth trying to engage a group that uses terror,the negotiator or mediator must design an appropriate strategy. The keyquestions to be addressed are whom to talk to, when to talk, what to talkabout, under what conditions to talk, and how to talk. The answer to anyone of these questions will influence the answers to the others, so noneshould be considered in isolation. Throughout the process, mediatorsshould also be aware of when to stop talking—when to disengage from aprocess that is not productive and may only be strengthening a terroristmovement’s capacity for violence.Decide Whom to Talk ToThe question of whom to talk to is twofold: the mediator or negotiatorneeds to decide, first, which group to talk to, and then, second, whichindividuals within that group to engage. In both cases, however, thecriteria are much the same.Know Whom You Need at the Table, and Whom You Don’t NeedA conflict involving terrorist groups is likely to also involve parties withsimilar goals to the terrorists but who work peacefully within theestablished political process to achieve those goals. Such parties are farreadier than the terrorist groups to talk with a mediator or governmentnegotiator, and their participation in a peace process is almost alwaysdesirable. But that participation is not always necessary—not, that is, if theparties represent only a small constituency and if the parties have little orno control over the violence that the peace process seeks to halt.35