Healing dialogue: Can the techniques and practices of Track Two diplomacy play a role in resolving public health conflicts?

Abstract

Track Two Diplomacy, a form of facilitated informal and unofficial dialogues between conflicting parties, has become a well-established form of international conflict resolution. This paper seeks to explore whether the techniques and practices of Track Two could be applied in a new setting beyond international armed conflicts: public health. Global society continues to grapple with the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, systemic racism, and climate change, among other pressing public health issues that can not only exacerbate but also create new conflicts that negatively affect communities. Innovative and interdisciplinary approaches are needed more than ever. We synthesize literature from both Track Two and public health fields to present a conceptual framework that posits whether and how such concepts as the “problem-solving workshop,” “transfer,” “reflective practice” and others might support parties involved in divisive, intractable, visible, and invisible conflicts which currently mark the public health space.

Transforming Intractable Policy Conflicts: A Qualitative Study Examining the Novel Application of Facilitated Discourse (Track Two Diplomacy) to Community Water Fluoridation in Calgary, Canada

“…While low-level consultation such as town halls, demonstrations, and petitions are commonplace [24], scholars are increasingly pointing to Track Two diplomacy as a more active, facilitated process to overcome intractable conflicts, particularly in an era of declining public trust in government and in the validity of scientific "facts" [28]. This study contributes an early application of Track Two beyond the international relations conflict resolution field, amidst an increasing curiosity to apply the Track Two process in other contexts, such as public health [1,11,29].…”

“…Governments are increasingly confronted by intractable policy conflicts [1,2]. Particularly in the context of complex health and social issues, policy-making often reaches an impasse when faced with a "wicked" problem, which is characterized by divergent values, perspectives, and uncertainties surrounding causal relationships and policy impacts [3].…”

“…These factors contribute to failed public health policies and exacerbate intergroup conflicts. Such issues are hallmarks of the community water fluoridation (CWF) policy impasse in Calgary, where policymaker, community, and scholar support and opposition present formidable challenges for resolution in a city that has just completed its seventh plebiscite on the issue in 60 years [10,11].…”

“…Track Two diplomacy is an informal, unofficial dialogue between conflicting parties, facilitated by an impartial third party [14]. This method of facilitated discourse has contributed to international conflict resolution [15] and is now being considered in public health conflicts [11]. By adapting Track Two diplomacy for public health policy conflicts, such as Calgary's CWF debate, we intended to examine this innovative approach to resolving intractable conflicts and contribute to the pursuit of long-term, durable solutions.…”