ABSTRACT
In this practice-oriented chapter Papagianni argues that there are three inherent tensions in designing national dialogue processes, which influence their legitimacy and effectiveness. The first tension relates to their size and composition. How large should national dialogues be? What constituencies need to be included and how should their representatives be selected? A second tension relates to the power and mandate of national dialogues. What is their relationship to existing state institutions like parliaments and governments? Finally, a third tension inherent in national dialogues, and related to the second one, is the question of their independence. Should the decisions of national dialogues be ratified by existing institutions or should their decisions be final? Papagianni concludes that designing peace processes requires difficult decisions on what needs to be discussed and resolved, on who needs to participate, and on what formats the parties feel comfortable with. During peace processes, agendas, formats, and participants frequently change in response to political and military developments. Flexibility and creativity are therefore essential ingredients in the success of a process. It is wise for third parties to avoid using a blueprint when they work with parties to design a peace process, and instead to create bespoke processes for each conflict.
