Building Positive Peace with Multi-Track Diplomacy: The case of Mozambique and the Community of Sant'Egidio

Building and consolidating long-standing and sustainable peace conditions in areas tackled by deeply rooted conflicts represents a harsh challenge, which will be the focus of the following analysis. Especially, the context of intra-state conflicts and civil wars, dividing communities internally and creating inevitable impacts externally, will be taken into account. Complexities and challenges in the transition from conflict to peaceful condition will be depicted, focusing on conflict areas as Mozambique during the civil war (1974-1992). Since causes of conflict and violence cannot be easily eradicated, peace agreements do not work as a tabula rasa and the end of fights often hides elements of indirect violence beneath social and cultural fabric, leading to an endless cycle of violence. The main issue is how to completely interrupt this cycle and establish enduring ¿Positive Peace¿ (Galtung 1969). It will be developed exploring the relationship between diplomacy, peacemaking and peace-building actions. Furthermore, assuming that actions of official diplomacy, at governmental and top-leaders level, might not be effective enough to solve conflicts, alternative methods working at the grassroots level will be analysed. The focus will be, particularly, on a systemic and inclusive theory, named Multi-Track Diplomacy. It represents a conceptual framework theorised by Ambassador John McDonald and Dr. Louise Diamond, which combines top-down approach of formal diplomacy with bottom-up action promoted by non-state actors. Defined as ¿a systems approach to peace¿ it includes nine essential dimensions: Government, Non-Government/Professional, Business, Private Citizen, Education, Activism, Religion, Funding, Communication/the Media. These ¿Nine Tracks¿ will be studied in depth as they are all necessary and interrelated, all performing a different fundamental function to have peace (McDonald, Diamond 1992). This paradigm represents the main theoretical framework which inspires the methodology used. Therefore, in the first chapter the theoretical background is outlined, defining the concepts of Positive Peace (Galtung 1969), Conflict Resolution and peace-building strategies. Then, strengths and weaknesses of different diplomacy and peacemaking approaches are assessed: the evolution from the Track One diplomacy to the unofficial Track Two is analysed, ending with the Multi-Track Diplomacy theory. Shifting to the empirical dimension, in the second chapter Multi-Track Diplomacy framework is used to analyse the transition from civil war to peace in Mozambique. Intra-state conflict background is provided with focus on the interrelations between official and unofficial actors. The purpose is to assess the fundamental role played by the NGO Community of Sant'Egidio in mediation and negotiating process to consolidate peace, leading to the Peace Agreement signed in 1992. Finally, the essay will end with the present challenges hindering Mozambique sustainable peace after 25 years, and how Community of Sant'Egidio still provides help to tackle them.