On the Ethics of Inclusion of Human Rights Abusers in Track Two Processes

Abstract

Track Two diplomacy is a field of conflict resolution that has been, since its inception in the 70s, known to be a potentially effective complement to official diplomacy in protracted conflicts. However, in such conflicts, parties dehumanize each other over time, to the point where human rights violations are committed and, in the social constructs that are the causes and products of those conflicts, justified. We analyze, through the evolution of ethics in peacebuilding in general and Track Two diplomacy in particular, how interactions with human rights abusers should be viewed and handled. We come to the conclusion that situations and actors are varied enough that no generalization can be made, but along the way we identify useful tools and frameworks to better tackle this moral conundrum.