BANGLADESH INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL AND STRATEGIC STUDIES

THE ROLE OF A STATE AS A THIRD PARTY IN MANAGING CONFLICTS:A CONCEPTUAL ANALYSIS

Author: M. Jashim Uddin

DOI Link: https://www.doi.org/10.56888/BIISSj2007v28n2a5

ABSTRACT

Conflict is an inseparable part of all human social relations. Today, the world is literally coveredwith ethnic, religious and ideological conflicts. Although resolving a conflict is desirable and should be the aim of any negotiation, due to mutual distrust very often disputants fail to bring any peaceful and permanent solution of the conflict. Hence, scholars emphasize conflict management, a process that reduces the level of intensity of a conflict, and uses channels of communication for gradual solution of the problem. This article examines the criteria, motives and strategies of a mediator in managinga conflict. It brings in a debate on the importance of impartiality and leverage as the most important criteria when choosing a mediator. Finally, this study argues that a state in particular a major power, which is impartial in a conflict and has leverage on the disputants, can be an acceptable and affective mediator. As a diplomatic strategy, the major power can simultaneously employ its Track I and Track II diplomacy for conflict management.