Dealing with spoilers in peace processes

This report discusses the outcomes of a workshop on how to deal with ”spoilers” in peace negotiations. The report discusses strategies for engaging those groups that oppose the peace process.

The report summarises the following discussions from the workshop:

• an introduction to 'spoilers' and the challenge of non-state actors for international cooperation
• constructive approaches to dealing with spoilers with examples from Sri Lanka, Macedonia, and Nepal
• approaches for dealing with different types of actors such as war veterans in Serbia and traditional chiefs in Afghanistan
• a summary of various working groups on instruments to analyse spoiler groups, strategies and risk management

The report concludes the following:

• there should be a concentration on analyzing, understanding and encountering spoiling behaviour instead of identifying and labeling spoiler groups
• external involvement should be designed to reinforce and respect ownership
• there should be an emphasis on capacity building measures, informal dialogue and discussions of peace visions to facilitate trust-building and an inclusive process
• existing tools may need to be adapted to the purpose of addressing spoiling behaviour
• strategies should also include a clear risk management policy that is informed by both good international practice and thorough analysis of the concrete case at hand
• it is vital that strategies combine realism (or modesty) for the short term with a long-term 'vision' for a sequence of goals to be achieved and processes to be initiated