Channels, Fall 2018

Channels • 2018 • Volume 3 • Number 1 Page 37 When discussing peace processes, it is important to remember that peace should not be thought of as culminating in a peace deal. Rather, it should be thought of as a long process, which is why this paper focuses on processes rather than deals. In fact, in some cases it can be detrimental to a peace process to focus on the deal, because it can cause the neglect of other areas. Additionally, peace processes carry on after peace deals are signed and are crucial to implementing the deals. A peace deal is by no means a guarantee of peace. There have been numerous peace deals signed that ended in violence (Tonge, 2014). I became interested in studying peace processes because I grew up as a missionary kid in Panama. Two years before I was born, coworkers of my parents were kidnapped by FARC guerillas. While I was not around for the kidnapping, I experienced the aftermath. Although