The Narcissism of Minor Differences in the Psychological Gap Between Opposing Nations

Any negotiations between opposing nations, according to Harold Saunders (1985), occurs in two phases. The first, largely political, is designed to help build political foundations, gain support for leadership, and remove obstacles to the resolution of international problems. The second is chiefly diplomatic and involves actual official negotiations. Davidson and Montville (1980-1981) refer to the preliminary, unofficial dialogues as Track II diplomacy, in order to distinguish them from official negotiations — Track I diplomacy. Some makers of foreign policy view Track II diplomatic talks as “confidence building” or “foundation building.”

During the past 15 years I have been present at many unofficial dialogues engaged in by representatives of national groups in conflict. As a member—and later as chairman—of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the American Psychiatric Association, I attended a series of major and minor meetings between Egyptians and Israelis between 1980 and 1984. Throughout this period and earlier, I also participated in a number of semi-academic and semipolitical meetings of Turkish and Greek representatives in Cyprus. As President