ELYA AGHAJANYAN
framework of Azerbaijani conflict resolution and conflict management strategies , and see how the position of Azerbaijan concerning the peace process has evolved over the years . The paper seeks to understand whether the concept of ‘ strategic patience ’ applies to Azerbaijani conflict management strategies regarding the peace process .
To understand the concept and develop theoretically well-grounded explanations , in the literature review , the paper discusses strategies of conflict management , first distinguishing between the central terms , namely conflict management and conflict resolution . It must be noted that many terms of peace studies may appear to overlap . Then it shortly addresses the main trends in existing scholarship and literature from the Azerbaijani side on the NK peace process .
This paper tends to use conflict management as an umbrella term above strategic patience ’. Consequently , the question boils down to whether there is some connection between the conflict management strategies that are presented in the literature review and strategic patience . In the analysis section , the paper discusses the concept of strategic patience , which is not an established term in the academic discourse of political science . This is a concept initially coined by the Obama administration to define its policy towards North Korea . The basic idea behind the concept is that it is sometimes necessary to have patience , wait for the appropriate moment , and then achieve the desired goal by undertaking a set of measures .
The first part of the analysis tries to find the connection between strategic patience and conflict management strategies , putting the former into a broader framework . Thus , by conceptualizing conflict management strategies , this study comes up with a suggestion to link conflict management and strategic patience as a mechanism and goal for the peace process . This part of the analysis takes the Israeli-Palestinian case , coupled with US-North Korea , to understand whether these terms apply to the Azerbaijani approach towards the peace process . Additionally , the paper discusses the case of Azerbaijan testing if its stance towards the NK peace process fits in the scope of this paper ’ s discussion or not . It is also worth noting that there is currently limited academic research focusing on the NK conflict from the perspective of conflict management . There is no significant work applying the concept of strategic patience to the Azerbaijani negotiating approaches towards the NK peace process . Consequently , this discussion of this notion may unveil the state ’ s position and help to understand the current peace process .
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