Standfirst:
Track II dialogues work when they are purpose-built: a clearly scoped problem, the right participants, disciplined facilitation, and credible pathways to policy uptake.

What Track II is (and isn’t)

Track II dialogues are unofficial, facilitated conversations among influentials and domain experts who can explore options that are hard to test in official fora. They complement—not replace—Track I diplomacy.

Design pillars

1. Defined problem & tight scope
   Frame a solvable problem (e.g., “humanitarian access triggers in X corridor”), with a 90-day horizon for tangible next steps.

2. Participant mix
   Include authoritative proxies (ex-officials, advisors, commanders retired from service), technical experts, and community voices with convening power; keep the group small (10–16).

3. Ground rules
   Confidentiality (Chatham House Rule), non-attribution, and “problem-solving workshop” norms: active listening, hypothesis testing, and option-generation without commitment.

4. Facilitation method
   Use structured rounds: (a) framing, (b) interests/constraints mapping, (c) option design, (d) consequence testing, (e) packaging for Track I relay.

5. Evidence base
   Provide participants with a neutral brief (maps, timelines, legal constraints, humanitarian data) to anchor discussion in facts.

6. Outputs
   Produce a non-paper with discrete, testable steps and clear “who/when/how,” plus a confidential aide-mémoire for Track I interlocutors.

Success conditions from the literature

• Ripeness (Zartman): Dialogues are most productive when parties perceive a “mutually hurting stalemate” and a way out.

• Problem-solving workshops (Kelman): Shifts occur by reframing needs, exploring trade-offs, and building working trust.

• Public peace process (Saunders): Iteration matters—sustained dialogue over single events.

Editor’s note (opinion): Over-broad mandates and over-large rooms kill momentum. Tight scope + small group + disciplined outputs beat grand conferences.

References 

• H. C. Kelman, Interactive Problem Solving;

• I. W. Zartman, Ripeness and the Hurting Stalemate;

• Harold H. Saunders, A Public Peace Process;

• Berghof Handbook for Conflict Transformation;

• USIP mediation and dialogue practice notes.