Peace talks, as the name implies, are a series of formal discussions between two or more warring parties that aim to end conflict. These discussions are often grueling, and they can last for years before any agreement is reached. The goal is to achieve a negotiated settlement that gives both sides minimal benefits in exchange for substantial concessions.
Several factors can influence whether and when a conflict will be brought to peace talks. Stanford University political scientist Oriana Skylar Mastro has found that influential third parties can help shorten a war by encouraging negotiations at an early stage. She has also seen that the expectations of conflict parties can shape their willingness to engage in peace negotiations. It is common for leaders to assume that no fighting will automatically result in peaceful coexistence and that peace negotiations require painful compromises.
The context in which peace talks take place is also important. For example, the ongoing talks with Afghanistan’s Taliban are taking place as the jihadist rebels have lost ground militarily and are seeking to re-establish themselves as a legitimate Afghan national movement. The regime, on the other hand, is trying to regain international legitimacy and appear as a reasonable actor in the eyes of global audiences.
Then there are the organizational and institutional components of peace agreements, which address what arrangements/mechanisms will be put in place to promote peace consolidation efforts once an agreement is reached. These are the nitty-gritty details that can make or break an agreement.