Winning and losing in Aceh: Five key dilemmas in third‐party intervention
The varied manifestations of conflict frequently challenge the international community to find appropriate strategies for intervention. Based on literature and field research, this article draws lessons from the process of joint dialogue in Aceh as facilitated by the Geneva‐based Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HDC). In addition to context‐related factors that complicated the forging of an intervention process, five key dilemmas and their options are established to provide comparative lessons. In particular, the argument focuses on the limitations of using a ‘negotiated access for humanitarian aid’ strategy (in the form of the Humanitarian Pause) in achieving sustainable solutions for conflict. Facilitation is analysed as a facet within ‘mediation’ and is therefore considered an aspect of conflict resolution theory.