Negotiating Tactics in Low Intensity Conflicts: The Cases of Northern Ireland, the Basque Country and Corsica

Abstract

AbstractThe article examines via the cases of Northern Ireland, the Basque country and Corsica the theories and practice of negotiating methods in long‐standing violent intrastate conflicts. Despite the uniqueness of each case depending on contextual and circumstantial parameters this article reaches general answers that contribute to establishing commonalities vis‐à‐vis conflict resolution and the effectiveness of certain peace processes and the failure of others. In general, the three case studies show that policies designed to accommodate fuller recognition and rights to an ethnic community have been more successful in preventing or diminishing polarisation and violent conflict than rigid policies. For a long lasting solution the parties involved would have to redefine their relationship in a way that either they could realise their goals without violent conflict or in a way that their goals would no longer conflict.