The role of turning points in international agreements

Daniel Druckman and Mara Olekalns

Chapter 13 in Handbook on the Politics of International Agreements, 2026, pp 197-214 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: Turning points – events that enable negotiators to break through impasses – are central to reaching international agreements. These events may be internal or external to the negotiation, created either by the actions of negotiators or triggered by broader socio-political events. The impact of a turning point depends on several factors, including the extent to which they “jolt” the established process and whether they move negotiations away from or towards agreement. In this chapter, we discuss the impact of turning points during the negotiation process on international peace agreements. Tracing these impacts is challenging in a dynamic environment: these kinds of talks are long-running, the parties’ alliances can form and break down, and internal and external pressures on parties can shift. With this in mind, we call attention to the importance of shared identities and resilience in strengthening relationships and forging constructive processes. We also caution about how emotional spillover and the way that agreements are publicly presented can cast a shadow on future negotiations.

Keywords: Turning Points; Negotiation Processes; Framing; Synchrony; Resilience; Escalation/De-Escalation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781035318582
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