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threat of robust preventive deployment which signaled to Buthelezi and IFP that any violence
taken on their part would be retaliated with full force. As the South Africa case shows, to have
the best chance for success, diplomatic strategies of conflict prevention need to be backed by a
credible threat to use military force, in terms both of the will to take military action and the
potency of the action threatened. Threats of military force can serve both deterrence and
reassurance objectives, and can thereby have the greatest impact on domestic leaders.
Negotiators
The role that negotiators play in issuing incentives is crucial for they must be credible
mediators and gain the trust of the major parties to the conflict. The negotiator’s aim is to
redirect the attitudes, perceptions, and behaviors of the actors engaged in conflict. In order to
influence the management or resolution of conflicts, mediators must possess certain attributes
that will foster success. These skills include not only a negotiator’s knowledge of the conflict’s
history and of conflict management, but also his/her prestige and authority, originality of ideas,
and access to resources. Leverage and legitimacy are crucial tools to move the conflicting parties
away from their rigid positions and accept a settlement. The higher the rank or moral authority,
the more influential he/she is likely to be because it is presumed that a high-level negotiator is
better able to commit his/her country or organization and its resources to the conflict prevention
effort (Touval and Zartman 1985: 15). Special envoys and other lead diplomats can therefore
play a major role in preventive diplomacy. Having individuals such as Kissinger, Carrington, and
Hurd involved in the negotiation process in South Africa increased the attention focused on the
nation and also demonstrated the commitment of the international community to the free and fair
election process. Mediators should also be strategically chosen based on their influence and
Convention