The Institute for Multi-track Diplomacy

The term multi-track diplomacy refers to the combination of official, governmental actions to resolve conflicts (track one) and unofficial efforts by nongovernmental professionals to resolve conflicts within and between states (track two).

Since this initial organization was inefficient, track two was expanded into four separate tracks: conflict resolution professionals, business, private citizens, and the media. This framework, however, still had the four unofficial tracks operating with the exclusive purpose to affect or change the direction of track one. Thus, in 1991, the number of tracks was expanded to nine. The four new tracks were: religion, activism, research, training, and education, and philanthropy, or the funding community. More importantly, however, the relationship among the various tracks was reorganized. Instead of putting track one at the top of the hierarchy, with all the "unofficial" tracks poised to change the direction of track one, all the tracks were connected to each other. No one track is more important than the other, and no one track is independent from the others. They operate together as a system. Each track has its own resources, values, and approach, but since they are all linked, they can operate more powerfully when they coordinated.

Multi-track diplomacy http://www.imtd.org/ uses a systems approach, inherent in the three concepts of: conflict transformation, peacebuilding, and multi-track diplomacy. It basically describes (a) what needs to change about a conflict (conflict transformation), (b) how that change is effected (peacebuilding), and (c) the actors involved and the environment in which such change takes place (multi-track diplomacy).

After studying the Web site of Multi-track Diplomacy, complete this exercise. Each section will list some activities of the various tracks involved in effecting the goals of IMTD. Read through all the activities in each section and then determine which activities don't belong in the group. Click on those items with your mouse to select them.