Mediating Multilateral Proxy Conflicts

This chapter assesses the increase in proxy conflict and asks how mediators can most effectively engage in conflicts which have proxy elements. To achieve a mediated settlement, the challenge for any mediator is to ensure a minimal level of consent between the warring factions. To build this consent, the mediator needs to understand the aims and drivers of the parties, and how those drivers can be appealed to all sides. This exercise is difficult enough; a conflict in which the primary actors are influenced by an external party makes gaining the necessary consent even more challenging. Given the increasing relevance of proxy sponsors in civil conflicts, this chapter it considers how proxies and the de-facto proliferation of actors impacts process design, and assesses options for multi-track mediation efforts to effectively confront the challenges created.