Unofficial international conflict resolution: Is there a Track 1½? Are there best practices?

Analysis of twenty‐four cases of unofficial international conflict resolution initiatives, done according to similarities across seven variables, shows that the practice of “Track 1½” diplomacy is distinct from Track 2 diplomacy. Furthermore, these initiatives are distinguished by their focus on process or diverse goals. Multidimensional scaling organized the cases into four groupings of similar initiatives: Track 1½ process‐focused, Track 1½ diversified, Track 2 process‐focused, and Track 2 diversified. The variety of approaches used in these twenty‐four cases of high‐quality international conflict resolution initiatives suggests best practices. These practices should be considered sensitive to context rather than a standard set of procedures used regardless of conflict environment.