Accords

Accords is the plural form of accord, a term used for formal agreements between two or more parties, typically negotiated and written to regulate rights and obligations. An accord may be binding under international or domestic law, and can take the shape of treaties, conventions, pacts, or negotiated understandings. Beyond its legal sense, accord also connotes harmony, agreement, or consensus reached after negotiation.

In international relations, accords are common tools for peace, security, trade, and cooperation. They can be bilateral or multilateral and may range from framework agreements to specific, time-limited commitments. Notable examples include the Camp David Accords (1978) between Egypt and Israel; the Oslo Accords (1993) between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization; the Paris Peace Accords (1973) intended to end U.S. involvement in Vietnam; and the Dayton Accords (1995) that contributed to ending the Bosnian War. The term is also used for various climate, economic, and cultural agreements reached through negotiation, sometimes phrasing such instruments as “trade accords,” “cultural accords,” or “environmental accords.”

Other uses include the Honda Accord, a mid-size automobile produced by Honda since 1976. In broader language, accord appears in phrases describing consensus or alignment, such as trade accords or accords of cooperation, reflecting the underlying idea of mutual agreement and coordinated action.