Julia Palmiano Federer Boeken

This book examines the influence of nongovernmental mediators on promoting "inclusive peace" during Myanmar's Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) negotiations from 2011-2015. The engagement of NGO mediators with negotiating parties and their advocacy for inclusivity raises questions about their agency in shaping political outcomes, despite limited political and material power. The author posits that NGO mediators can effectively disseminate norms, utilizing mediation processes as platforms for norm diffusion. Over the past three decades, specialized international conflict resolution NGOs have emerged as significant actors in mediation, functioning as "norm entrepreneurs" while engaging in "private diplomacy." These informal third parties interact with politically sensitive actors and facilitate unofficial peace talks, contributing to a professionalized epistemic community in mediation practice. The book critiques the promotion of liberal peacebuilding norms, such as inclusion and gender equality, questioning whether NGOs should advocate for these norms without understanding their interaction with local frameworks. The NCA process serves as a cautionary tale, revealing that the push for inclusivity led to exclusionary outcomes, with only half of the armed groups signing the agreement and civil society marginalized. The research highlights the complexities of normative agency in mediation and its unintended consequences.