The Key Role of Political Prisoners in Transcending Protracted Conflicts.

This article examines the critical role of politically motivated violent offenders (PMVOs) in resolving protracted, asymmetric ethno-national conflicts, focusing on comparative case studies from Northern Ireland, South Africa, and the Israeli-Palestinian Oslo Accords during the 1990s. PMVOs, defined as imprisoned militants viewed within their communities as embodiments of the national struggle, possess significant symbolic capital and political legitimacy that can either obstruct or facilitate peace processes. The study highlights how inclusive negotiation mechanisms addressing PMVOs' release and involvement—as seen in Northern Ireland and South Africa—contributed to advancing and stabilizing peace agreements, whereas Israel's failure to adequately engage PMVOs undermined the Oslo process. The article underscores that while PMVOs are indispensable actors in legitimizing and implementing negotiated settlements, their influence depends on the political context, negotiation structure, and the willingness of parties to integrate them into the peace process.