National Dialogue Handbook

Grounded in a series of contemporary case studies, this Handbook aims to contribute to the nascent debate about National Dialogue, bringing together insights and expertise from diverse regions. In doing so, it seeks to present systematic reflections and offer practical advice. The Handbook thus supports conflict stake-holders and practitioners (both local and international) to grapple with the challenges they face and to pursue the most appropriate design for their particular context. Moving beyond simplistic approaches, the Handbook also seeks to provide an overview of National Dialogue processes, drawing from the expertise and practices of scholars and practitioners. The purpose of the Handbook is twofold: (1) to offer an analytical framework of National Dialogues and (2) to serve as a practical tool for those engaged in the implementation of these processes. This Handbook thus offers a unique practice-oriented resource guide for comprehensively designing, implementing and supporting National Dialogues.

Source: National Dialogue Handbook: A Guide for Practioners. Berlin: Berghof Foundation, 2017.

Tools for Conflict Analysis

Source: Irenees

Peace Processes 2016

This edition of the Yearbook on Peace Processes analyses conflicts in which negotiations are being held to reach a peace agreement, regardless of whether these negotiations are formalised, are in the exploratory phase, are faring well or, to the contrary, are stalled or in the midst of crisis. It also analyses some cases in which negotiations or explorations are partial; that is, they do not include all the armed groups present in the country. The majority of the negotiations refer to armed conflicts, but we also analyse quite a few contexts in which, despite the fact that there are no considerable armed clashes today, the parties have not reached a permanent agreement that would put an end to the hostilities and conflicts still pending. In that sense, the negotiations make sense in an effort to fend off the start or resurgence of new armed clashes.

Source: Fisas, Vicenç. Yearbook on Peace Processes 2016. Barcelona: Escola de Cultura de Pau, 2016.

Dialogue and Mediation in Change Processes

World’s Constitutions Tool

Constitute allows drafters, academics and global citizens to find and compare the world’s constitutions. Using the site, drafters and citizens can browse constitutions by country and year, or cross-compare whole or parts of documents. Users can also search for specific words and phrases, or use the topics menu to drill down into specific themes. The Comparative Constitutions Project cataloged and tagged nearly 350 topics, which range from the fairly general, such as “Citizenship” and “Foreign Policy,” to the very specific, such as “Suffrage and turnouts” and “Judicial Autonomy and Power.”

Source: Comparative Constitutions Project

Peace and Dialogue Process in Myanmar

National Dialogue Process Tool

Key Common Elements of National Dialogues:

• Mechanism bringing all major political decision makers and stakeholders together after serious conflict or when constitutional bodies (e.g. Parliament, Government) and constitution fail to address needs, rights and expectations of all groups and communities.
• National dialogue constitutes political representation and respect all major interest group in society.
• National dialogue is a non-constitutional entity that functions best when it is linked to existing constitutional bodies or interim structures to guarantee implementation.
• National dialogue results in decisions and binding frameworks for political reforms and constitutional changes.
• National dialogue table, process, decision making and implementation mechanisms are determined by the parties themselves.
• National dialogues are mandated by participating political stakeholders and parties.

Source: Common Space Initiative

20 Years of Talks

Source: Visualizing Palestine