Encountering and Countering Temporary Impasses in Peace Processes

Abstract

To be stuck and to un-stuck discussions are part of the daily business of a peace mediation process. In the best of cases, such moments pass within short moments, in the worst of cases that they lead to an end of the peace process. Between those extremes there is a so far poorly studies middle-way: temporary impasses. Between 21 and 23 September 2016, the Mediation Support Network MSN met in Siem Reap, Cambodia, to discuss temporary impasses based on case studies from Myanmar and the Philippines. Based on the meeting, the present Edition of the MSN Discussion Points Series presents the concept of temporary impasses. In doing so, the authors present how such impasses come about, identify different types of temporary impasses, and show ideas how such impasses can be overcome.