Why do peace processes collapse? The Basque conflict and the three-spoilers perspective

Peace activists and negotiators face a particularly daunting task in areas where violence functions as a tool for reinforcing ethno-national boundaries and maintaining group cohesion. In such an environment, support and justification for violence exist as a distinct reality, separate from political practice. Promoters of peace and conciliation therefore face the tremendous challenge of tackling this “culture of violence”, trying to integrate it and, eventually, transform it into a viable “culture of peace”. More ambitiously, as militarism and violence remain intrinsically antithetical to culture, the broader goal should be to devise some sort of “alchemy” capable of transforming violence into culture. This kind of intergroup dynamics is palpable in the enduring conflict between radical Basque nationalism and the Spanish state. It is a condition highly conductive to the emergence of spoiling activities on the part of those who bear arms.

Sustainable Development Goals:

Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions