Early action : the potential of conflict prevention

In: 1874-2033 ; The Broker, 20-23. (2008)

Abstract

This article focuses on the potential applications of conflict prevention in cases of relatively 'new' or 'latent' disputes. It discusses existing obstacles to conflict prevention and describes lessons governments could learn from past attempts to preclude violence. An overview of lessons learned from preventive diplomacy is presented, including: (1) act at an early stage; (2) be swift and decisive; (3) use talented, influential international diplomats who command local respect; (4) build local networks that address the various drivers of the conflict, but avoid obvious favouritism and imbalances; (5) use credible threat of the use of force or other penalties, such as sanctions, if necessary to deter actors from using violence; and (6) neutralize potential external supporters of one side or the other, such as neighbouring countries with kin groups in a conflict.