Description
Trustworthiness and trust have long been referred to by academics and practitioners involved in Track II initiatives, though this has largely been in passing and it is generally assumed that Track II structures can develop trust due to their relative openness. Given such assumptions, a lack of robust analysis of trust is surprising, especially given its importance being regularly recognised and captured by concepts such as the late Herbert Kelman’s “working trust”. In this paper we engage in a deeper analysis of trustworthiness, trust and trusting in Track II initiatives to develop a framework of Track II trust. We draw on both discursive materials written by Track II practitioners and elite interviews with Track II academics/practitioners to explore the complexity of trustworthiness, trust and trusting in Track II initiatives. By looking across both Western and Non-Western cases, we identify similarities and differences in the way trust is developed and mediates relationships both between participants and broader relational structures. In so doing, the paper seeks to speak to both academics and practitioners in better understanding what we mean by these concepts within the “grey space” of Track II initiatives.
