What We Do

Nadia Azgihkina and Russian students discuss Global Threats at Herzen University c. 2018. St. Petersburg, Russia.

Citizen Diplomacy

Citizen Diplomacy, originally called Track Two Diplomacy, refers to informal, private-sector collaboration between members of groups or nations in conflict, which seeks to devise strategies, coordinate human and material resources, and influence public opinion in an effort to help resolve conflict.

The term “Track Two Diplomacy” was coined in 1980 by a member of our board to describe an emergent

non-governmental approach to relations between nations.

It does not seek to replace or obfuscate traditional, official “Track One” diplomacy between governments and leaders, but rather strives to complement it.

Track two participants and marine experts at Oceans 22 conference at Esalen Institute c. 2022. Big Sur, California, USA.

Track Two participants from Germany, Russia, Japan, and the US gather for a conference on the nuclear threat at Esalen Institute c. 2021. Big Sur, California, USA.

Our Network

Our network of participants and experts is comprised of distinguished peacebuilders, activists, journalists, scientists, conservation experts, psychologists, technologists, educators, business leaders, and artists. We convene our network in pursuit of solutions to global threats and conflict. Through our network, we foster interdisciplinary collaboration across borders.

Conferences

We have held conferences/gatherings in person and online during which participants from different disciplines and cultures enter into discourse with one another on a variety of global concerns. These conferences are followed by in-depth reporting and formation of working groups to initiate projects. These conferences also spark friendships that have spurred projects outside Track Two’s work in collaborative arts, literature and many other fields.

Joe Orrach leads a movement for Russian and American participants at Herzen University c. 2019. St. Petersburg, Russia.

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Russian faith healer Djuna/Dzhuna (center), Dulce Murphy (center), and Norman Mailer (right) thumb wrestle in Moscow, Russia c. 1984

Journalism & Literature

The last four years have seen continued attacks on journalists working on the front lines of wars, environmental crises, and political divisions. Track Two invites journalists to work with our network members to help with safety overseas, connections to key stakeholders in conflicts and new avenues for sourcing their reporting. From early beginnings with a series of first-of-their-kind Spacebridges, connecting everyday Russians and Americans, Track Two recognized the importance of demystifying "others" to allow for greater open-mindedness for individuals and ultimately, for States.

Literature and the work of great writers has also been woven into Track Two’s years of Citizen Diplomacy. We celebrate authors’ works and their tireless efforts to restore peace with webinars, book readings and other discourse. From satire to tragedy, to romance, authors in our network offer insight, the historical record and compassion to societies in conflict.

Track Two experts and participants convene virtually for The Third Bomb conference, April 2021

Nuclear

The threat of nuclear devastation was at the root of Track Two’s work. In the 1970’s and 1980’s Track Two’s founders understood that tensions between the former Soviet Union and the US could propel these nations into a devastating war. They further believed that if friendships could be formed, a disaster might be averted. A network of Russians and Americans was quickly built and friendship blossomed and contributed to a greater peace than had been experienced for decades.

Today nuclear threats are more threatening. More players hold these weapons and the weapons themselves are far more powerful than their predecessors. Track Two’s Third Bomb and subsequent online conferences as well as in-person conferences have sought to raise awareness for the threat involved.

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Icebergs near Cape Hallett, western Ross Sea_©BobZuur.jpg

Icebergs near Cape Hallett, western Ross Sea. Image courtesy of Masha Vorontsova.

Science

Science has long been a verdant pasture for citizen diplomacy. At the most dire moments in the history of international relations, diplomacy among scientists has often been the catalyst to a more peaceful resolution of perceived conflicts. For example, Track Two assisted with the creation of the International Association of Space Explorers - a joint effort of astronauts and cosmonauts to work together to further space science.

More recently, Track Two has supported actions to avert environmental degradation and to contribute to climate change adaptations and mitigations. Our 2022 Oceans 22 gathering at Esalen ignited partnerships and relationships that have helped broker cooperation in the Antarctic and the Arctic oceans. Working groups formed at these conferences are helping with scientific data sharing across borders, raising awareness about legislation and policy that is making protection of the planet more difficult, and celebrating environmental success stories.

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The American public at the US gallery showing for the Pacifica Prize in San Francisco, CA, USA c. 2014

The Arts

Diplomacy relies on cultural exchange that helps build cross-border understanding. The cultural traditions and the influence of these on all art forms shed light and offer deeper insight into the psyche of people who are geographically dispersed. Track Two has brought arts and culture to every conference we have held. Participant artists, dancers, curators, music critics and journalists, authors, translators, documentarians, photographers, videographers have attended our gatherings. Their insights shift our perceptions and challenge us to set intellectualizing aside from time to time to seek the heart in our work. Culture makers have enjoyed collaborations inspired and ignited through our convenings. And we actively support the work of our cultural leaders as they continue to create through the vagaries of international politics, wars and global threats.

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Track Two in Moscow, Russia for work on Maternal Health Project c. 1982

Psychology & Healthcare

Track Two offered a different approach to non-state diplomacy. It introduced and practiced transpersonal psychology from its earliest days forward. This allowed for unusual and at times explosive discourse between its Russian colleagues and the Americans who joined the conferences at Esalen. It also offered those well schooled in the practices the means to engage Americans and Russians in unusually deep, personal and even political discourse. These practices are still at work in Track Two citizen diplomacy circles today.

Track Two, and Esalen previously, brought a new dynamic to diplomacy as a result of this psychological underpinning. And additionally, early network members also brought new health practices and procedures to the Soviet Union when these practices were unknown. From heart surgeries for children to a library of psychological literature, Track Two helped advance health and well being for many through this work.

Track Two led the creation of the Soviet Union’s first comprehensive international psychological library in Moscow, Russia. This took place after years of collaborative activities in the field of psychology and the human potential and became a lasting contribution. In the 1996, Track Two collaborated with the World Health Organization on a project to advance maternal health. Pandemics and other health issues have regularly been featured in our conferences. And we explore the intersection of health and the other program areas we work in. Global health will be a topic of our discussions in 2026 and 2027.

Technology

Evolving technologies have increasingly impacted international relations. From the power of Twitter in stimulating protests around the Arab Spring to the data-sharing opportunities presented by filesharing services for the benefit of the environment, the rapid evolution of technology that leaps borders continuously offers opportunity for collaboration.

Track Two has explored the impact of technologies on international relations throughout its history. In the early days of the Internet, Track Two convened experts to explore its impact on cross-border activity; later, a conference was dedicated to understanding how social media might impact this work. Yet another conference invited cybersecurity experts to shed light on the growing use of cybercrime in national security endeavors. And today Track Two is exploring the opportunities and concerns offered by AI for deepening international relations at the civilian level, to better understand human and machine intelligence and to employ tools that enable deeper appreciation for language.

CULTURE & ARTS PROJECTS

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