Abstract:
This article explores the intelligence requirement of international
mediation, a topic that is ignored in both the literature on conflict resolution
and the literature on intelligence. A mediator’s strategies and tactics ought to
be informed by a deep understanding of the parties’ internal calculations
about the conflict and its resolution. Intelligence is needed to gain this
understanding because the parties typically do not reveal their sensitive
deliberations to outsiders. United Nations mediation teams should have a
monitoring and analysis unit that endeavours to meet this need and reduce the
ignorance that commonly afflicts international mediation.
