Peace treaty

:See main article: Treaty.

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A peace treaty is an agreement (a peace treaty) between two hostile parties, usually countries or governments, that formally ends a war or armed conflict. They are different from an armistice which is an agreement to cease hostilities or a surrender in which an army agrees to give up arms.

Related Topics:
Peace - Treaty - War - Armistice - Surrender

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There are many possible issues which may be included in a peace treaty, and a treaty's content usually depends heavily on the nature of the conflict being concluded. Some of these may be:

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• Formal designation of borders.
• Processes for resolving future disputes
• Access to and apportioning of natural resources
• Status of prisoners
• Status of refugees
• Settling of existing debts
• Settling of ownership claims
• Defining of proscribed behavior
• The re-application of existing treaties

Treaties are often ratified in territories deemed neutral in the previous conflict and delegates from these neutral territories act as witnesses to the signatories. In the case of large conflicts between numerous parties there may be one global treaty covering all issues or separate treaties signed between each party.

Related Topics:
Neutral - Witness - Signatories - Global

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In more modern times certain intractable conflict situations, may first be brought to cease-fire and are then dealt with via a peace process where a number of discrete steps are taken on each side to eventually reach the mutually desired goal of peace and the signing of a treaty. A peace treaty also is often not used to end a civil war, especially in cases of a failed secession, as it implies mutual recognition of statehood. In such cases such as with the American Civil War is usually ended when the armies of the losing side surrenders and the government collapses.

Related Topics:
Cease-fire - Peace process - Secession - American Civil War

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By constrast, a successful secession or declaration of independence is often formalized by means of a peace treaty.

Related Topics:
Secession - Declaration of independence

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Since the founding of the United Nations after World War II this organization has sought to act as a forum for resolution in matters of international conflict and is often instrumental in peace processes and peace treaties. The number of international treaties and obligations member states are involved in which they seek to limit and control behaviour during wartime has perhaps made the idea of total war less tenable. This has meant that formal declarations of war are frequently not undertaken and therefore a peace treaty at the end is also not entered in to. The Korean War is an example of a war which was suspended with a cease-fire but never closed with a treaty.

Related Topics:
United Nations - World War II - Forum - International treaties - Total war - Korean War

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Peace treaty: Ancient history ►