The chapter investigates the interaction between the government and the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) during peace talks and discusses this in relation to the larger web of relations shaping the peace talks.
Based on direct observations from the third round of talks in 2017 and interviews with representatives of the two parties, the chapter analyzes the behavioral interactions, intersubjective attitudes, and ideas of the relationship. T
he chapter shows that the relationship between the representatives can be characterized by one of “peace between fellows” and even in some cases “peace between friends.”
The chapter also describes how the peace talks broke down just after the third round despite the good atmosphere at the table and discusses this breakdown in relation to three other sets of relations shaping the talks: (1) intra-party relations; (2) relations between the leaders of the respective parties; and (3) relations to and within civil society.
Hence, the chapter sketches the broader web of relations within which peace talks unfold. It concludes by drawing lessons for relational peace and pointing toward the importance of transforming the Philippine political system to enable conflict by political rather than violent means.