How to make two parties sign a peace treaty ?

Question

Well, I can only wonder about how unarmed people can make two parties each heavily armed, and had hated one another for thousands of years to meet and sign a peace treaty.

How peace negotiators do that jobs ?

Answer 1

oh they do jobs alright

Answer 2

Very carefully.  I assume that you are referring to the Mid-East peace talks that recently occurred.  It is a very difficult process and one that very often does not work.  The way that it basically works is this.

Yes, both sides don't like each other, in fact some argue they exist solely to destroy the other.  But, just the the US and the Soviet Union during the Cold War, they realize certain things about conflict that neither side wants.  One, its expensive:  the toll in human lives is incalculable let along the $100Ms each side would incur through weapons, vehicles, etc.  Two, although both sides may hate each other, they understand that the other exists and that there is little that they themselves can do about it.  Yes you have been fighting for a long time, but would Israel truely benefit (strategic or otherwise) from invading another country?  Not really, they would run into the same logistical nightmare that the US is facing in Iraq.  Three, they all truely want peace anyways.  Deep down, beyond the rhetoric, beyond the hardliners and extremists, most of the peoples that reside in these countries just want this to end.  Granted the way they each want it to end is much different, but you have to take away from that the fact that there is a push for peace.

All of the elements for peace are there, there is a sustainable plan to create a Palestinian state and Israel seems to be ok with that.  All that is needed are these peace negotiators.  They simply facilitate this process by acting as a surrogate or representative from the sides to form bonds and work together.  Most of the time these countries would not speak to one another, but through a mediator, through a representative, they are able to come together here.  We see the US as the facilitator for Israel and Saudi Arabia as the facilitator for the Arab countries.  We see for the first time Syria in the talks.  It is a step forward.  Granted, nothing may come of it, but at least they are talking.  Peace takes times.

Answer 3

The only way to get two antagonists to sign a peace treaty is to threaten them with violence.

Answer 4

No one can "make" anyone else sign a peace treaty - not one that will last, anyway.

Peace begins with individuals, then spreads to communities, cities, and nations. It can be forced successfully from the top down.

However, if two parties have been fighting one another for 1000's of years, and are sick and tired of it, and realize that it will never make a difference, then I think that they can be persuaded by a skilled negotiator to share and compromise, and agree to to peace.

Answer 5

The parties must unite for the good of the country and not to protect the interests of their parties.

Answer 6

Make them an offer they can't refuse.  Assure them that either their signature or their brains will be on the treaty...

... or persuade them with carrots like favorable trade terms, diplomatic recognition, taking their side over items in negotiation, foreign aid, business investment, etc.

Still, racism, xenophobia and historic violence will usually overpower rationality.  See, if my father was killed, or lost his house, due to the other side's actions, would I be "avenged" by concluding peace?  Certain beautiful people can get past vengeance, but they are usually not the political masses which even a dictatorship must satisfy.