Exploring the utility of force: some conclusions

Negotiating statehood through ceasefires: Syria’s de-escalation zones

“…As such, what they contain and do potentially has an outsized effect on any future peace. This is most starkly illustrated in frozen conflicts like North Korea and Cyprus where the evolution of political and military systems is based on the formalisation of power and authority contained in the ceasefire agreement, 34 but the argument also holds true in much more dynamic and ongoing conflict environments. Ceasefires may create a platform for peace, but in doing so, they also clarify the landscape in terms of what are and what are not the important issues at stake for different competing parties.…”