The Missing Link: Civil Society Roles in Peacebuilding.

Discussions about the contribution of Track II Diplomacy must now include not just the contributions to peace that can be made by leaders and elites that move between Track II and official negotiations, but also the role of civil society organizations and individuals in the critical task of building peace. Although the exclusion of civil society groups may be 'tidy' for Peace negotiations that are already complex, their absence from the negotiating table can prove damaging and even fatal to the peace agreement during the post-conflict peacebuilding phase. From Oslo to Arusha, the focus on elite interests in peace negotiations left thepopulace at large without perceived stakes in the agreed peacebuilding frameworks, undermining the ability of governments and transitional authorities to reach a sustainable peace. Looking at case material from the Middle East and Africa, this paper explores descriptive and prescriptive elements, including: - the evidence regarding what has been lost by not having civil societygroups engaged in peace processes - the primary contributions that civil society groups can make to peace and democracy building - possible avenues for including civil society groups in peace negotiations - critical roles for civil society groups in post-conflict peacebuilding that can be incorporated into peace settlements ..PAT.-Conference Proceeding [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]