Abstract
Backstops could be best defined as a form of safeguard or contingency plan, that aim to guarantee a certain positive outcome regardless of the outcome of a negotiation. In Cyprus and peace negotiations across conflict zones, a “backstop” could refer to a fallback arrangement that will kick in if parties fail to reach a comprehensive settlement. While we do not necessarily advocate for any specific backstop, in this article we aim to present the wider architecture and process design, examples from around the world as well as a feasible range of alternatives for Cyprus.