This monograph examines security-related track two diplomacy efforts in the Middle East and South Asia, including how such efforts have socialized participants into thinking about security in more cooperative terms, and whether the ideas generated in track two forums have been acknowledged at the societal level or influenced official policy. Kaye concludes with suggestions on how to improve future track two efforts.

"MG-592-NSRD"--P. [4] of cover.

Rethinking track two diplomacy -- Key issues and questions -- The state of the field -- A normative framework -- Defining track two -- Applying track two -- A regional focus -- Historical precedents -- Comparing the Middle East and South Asia -- Roles for track two dialogues -- Socialization of participating elites : creating a constituency for regional cooperation -- Filtering : making others' ideas your own -- Transmission : turning ideas into new policies -- Limits of track two dialogues -- Regional security dialogues in the Middle East -- Introduction -- Overview of dialogues -- UCLA and the Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation -- The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) -- The search for common ground -- Depaul University -- United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) -- Cooperative Monitoring Center -- Canadian-sponsored maritime activities -- The U.S. Geological Survey and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory: regional seismic monitoring cooperation project -- European-sponsored activities -- Gulf security track two forums -- Roles -- Socialization -- Filtering -- Policy impact -- Limits -- Elites -- Domestic constraints -- The regional environment -- Conclusion -- Regional security dialogues in South Asia -- Introduction -- Overview of dialogues -- Neemrana process -- Balusa group -- Kashmir Study Group (KSG) -- Shanghai process -- Stimson Center dialogues -- CSIS meetings on nuclear risk reduction centres (NRRCs) -- Cooperative Monitoring Center, Sandia National Laboratories -- Maritime activities: the confidence and cooperation in South Asian Waters Project -- Roles -- Socialization -- Filtering -- Policy impact -- Limits -- Elites -- Domestic constraints -- Regional environment -- Conclusion -- Conclusion -- Central arguments -- Regional comparisons -- Regional lessons -- Improving track two dialogues -- Expand the types of participants -- Create or strengthen institutional support and mentors for track two activities -- Localize the dialogues -- Bibliography.