Beyond Official Negotiations: The Experience of the Community of Sant’Egidio

In a world where not only economy is privatized but wars are increasing as well, alternative approaches to conflict resolution are needed that go beyond official negotiations. Cesare Zucconi’s contribution draws on the experience of the peace for Mozambique negotiated by the Community of Sant’Egidio with the support of the Italian government between 1990 and 1992 as one of the first experiences of Track Two Diplomacy. Track Two Diplomacy does not replace official international relations nor interaction at an institutional level, yet it does offer what the institutions seem to be lacking today: a flexible, informal, and personalized approach. Zucconi makes the case that peace is always possible and that mediation is a promising path toward it.