ABSTRACT
The decision-making structures of belligerent leaderships differ. Some are totalitarian or oligarchic, where decisions are generally made by one person or a small group of people, and criticism is generally neither offered nor tolerated. Although there is usually central leader, sometimes elected, the decisions are generally made by the group; group consensus is often a conscious goal. Whatever the structure of a belligerent leadership, the interaction between the leader or group of leaders and their "inner circle" those responsible to and closest to the ultimate decision-makers has a great effect on the consideration of the question of cease-fire. This chapter focuses on cases where the ultimate leadership has no sufficient will to cease fire, but those who surround him may, and discussion centres on their relation ship to the leadership and the possibilities it offers for cease-fire.
