ABSTRACT
In de-escalation, concessions and conciliation play something of the same role that demands and coercion play in escalation. Nevertheless, de-escalation and crisis termination are usually discussed as escalation in reverse. There are many aspects of or approaches to de-escalation. Thus, any of the following could be important in a typical de-escalation: escape from "costs"; insurance against further escalation; learning to cooperate; setting precedents; war-fighting or hostile aspects; an aspect of crisis management; and a special kind of conflict management. If the de-escalation were simply to a lower level of crisis, it need not necessarily reduce further damage because extended conflict at a lower level might be as destructive as a briefer conflict at a higher level. Any crisis that reaches the upper rungs of the escalation ladder is likely to be regarded by both participants as a disaster, possibly even regardless of the political gains achieved.
