| Summary/Abstract |
The emergence of international NGOs mediating in intrastate conflicts has been labelled by The Economist as ‘privatizing peace’. This article explores this growth and the tensions brought about by the unofficial standing of NGO mediators. Primary among these is the power differential experienced by weak mediators, whereby they are perceived as unable to deploy the necessary inducements to create conditions favourable for a resolution. This article reviews NGO strengths and weaknesses as mediators by undertaking a case study analysis of the role of the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (1999–2003) and the Crisis Management Initiative (2005) in the peace processes in Aceh, Indonesia. It is concluded that despite evident limitations in terms of resources and leverage, within the specific context of the Aceh conflict, the characteristics of the NGO mediators and the mediation strategies adopted by the NGOs allowed them to implement an effective mediation process, and resulted in favourable mediation outcomes.
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