ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Track II diplomacy

Hi there! Have you ever heard of something called track II diplomacy? It's a way of trying to solve conflicts and problems between some different groups, but it's not like the normal way governments do it. Let me explain:

You know how sometimes people might not agree on things? Maybe you and your friend want to play different games, or your parents might not see eye-to-eye on what to have for dinner. Sometimes, this can happen on a much bigger scale, like between countries or groups of people.

When there's a big issue that needs to be solved and the normal way of doing things (like politicians talking or making laws) doesn't seem to be working, that's where track II diplomacy comes in.

It's called "track II" because it's like there are two tracks running at the same time. One track is the official one, and that's where the people in charge, like politicians and government officials, talk and try to solve problems. But sometimes that doesn't work out for different reasons, maybe because they have different views, or because they are just too stubborn.

That's where the second track comes in. It's a more informal way of communication, where people who are not official representatives (like experts on the topic, community leaders, or even just concerned citizens) talk to each other and try to find solutions.

It's called "diplomacy" because it's a way of trying to find common ground and work together, even if people don't agree on everything. Diplomacy is all about finding compromises and peaceful solutions.

So, in summary, track II diplomacy is a way of trying to solve big problems where the official way of doing things isn't working. It involves people who are not official representatives talking to each other and trying to find compromises and solutions so everyone can be happy.