Unofficial Third Party Interventions: Civil Society Actors in Peace Process

This thesis aims to figure out the role unofficial civil society actors play in international peace negotiation and conflict resolution. The thesis explores unofficial civil society actors' activities, working approaches and strategies in the Track One, Track 1.5 and Track Two Diplomacy as well as grass-roots level intervention. A comparative analysis of unofficial civil society actors' performance in drafting the Geneva Accord and Kalman's problem-solving workshop in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is conducted. Based on the comparative study of unofficial civil society actors' role in Track Two and Track 1.5 Diplomacy in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the thesis debates on how unofficial civil society actors can better contribute to peace promotion. Based on the potential, limitation and challenges analysis for unofficial civil society actors, the thesis argues that a reasonable strategy for unofficial civil society actors in international peace negotiation and conflict resolution is to draw a clear line between Track One and Track Two diplomacy and remain their independence. The thesis also suggests that unofficial civil society actors could go down to grass-roots level mediatory.