Exploring the relevance and contribution of mediation to peace-building (original) (raw)
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Mediation: A Need to Expand the Understanding and Use of this Diverse Peacemaking Tool
Zeitschrift für Beratungs- & Managementwissenschaften, 2018
Mediation is an interactive process which helps parties work on various issues and resolve conflict. This process has almost unlimited potential at all levels of our global society, regardless of the type, size or location of the conflict, and can thus be viewed as an important peacemaking tool. However, despite the unlimited value and diversity of mediation, many around the world are unfamiliar with or do not take full advantage of its potential. Still, others tend to narrowly categorize, advocate for and use mediation, which takes away from all the tremendous positive impacts this peacemaking tool can have on our global society. This article will argue that there are different fields of thought on what mediation is, and when, how and who should use it. It will also argue that there needs to be a cohesive understanding regarding the various meanings of this process and by doing so, an expansion in the overall understanding and use of this diverse peacemaking tool. The goal of this article is not do define what is right or wrong about mediation based on different fields of thought, but to bring to light the need for mutual understanding and collaboration in order to strengthen and expand the meaning, use and benefits of mediation to our global society. Zusammenfassung Mediation ist ein interaktiver Prozess, der die Beteiligten dabei unterstützt, an ihren Anliegen zu arbeiten und Konflikte zu lösen. Dieser Prozess hat immenses Potenzial für alle Anliegen unserer globalen Gesellschaft, unabhängig von Typ, Größe oder Ort des Konflikts, und kann deshalb als wichtiges friedensförderndes Instrument eingesetzt werden. Trotz der universellen Anwendungsmöglichkeiten von Mediation sind viele damit noch nicht vertraut oder nützen ihr Potenzial nicht. Andere neigen dazu, Mediation zu eng zu sehen, oder so zum Einsatz zu bringen, dass die vielen positiven Aspekte für die Friedensförderung in unserer globalen Gesellschaft nicht voll zum Tragen kommen. Dieser Beitrag zeigt auf, dass es verschiedene Arten von Mediation gibt, je nachdem, wie sie wann und von wem genützt wird. Es wird auch ausgeführt, dass es einer übereinstimmenden Auffassung der verschiedenen Variationen des Mediationsprozesses bedarf, da ihre verschiedenen Einsatzmöglichkeiten (Erkennen und Anwenden) für friedensfördernde Maßnahmen bei weitem noch nicht ausgeschöpft sind. Ziel dieses Beitrags ist nicht, aufzuzeigen, was bei Mediation richtig oder falsch in den unterschiedlichen Auffassungen ist, sondern, die Notwendigkeit eines gegenseitigen Verstehens und der Zusammenarbeit zu erhellen, um Bedeutung, Nutzen und Vorteile der Mediation für die Menschheit zu stärken und sie zu erweitern.
Peace Studies: Conflict Resolution and Mediation Strategies
Science For All Publications, 2023
This article explores the field of Peace Studies, focusing on conflict resolution and mediation strategies. The aim is to provide an overview of the theoretical foundations, key concepts, and practical approaches in this field. The article highlights the importance of understanding the root causes of conflicts and the role of mediation in promoting peaceful resolutions. It also discusses various conflict resolution strategies and the skills required for effective mediation. Overall, the article emphasizes the significance of Peace Studies in fostering sustainable peace and social justice.
Mediation in Armed Conflict.pdf
Security and Defence Quarterly, 2017
Mediation is one of the most commonly used methods for solving armed conflicts due to its flexibility allowing parties to freely decide about their participation in the mediation, the choice of a mediator, and accepting or rejecting the conditions of conflict resolution established during the mediation process. The article looks at various approaches to mediation, leading to an indication of the nature and attributes of this method of solving armed conflicts. It also analyses the motives of the main actors of mediation - the parties of the conflict and the mediator, which are taken into consideration when they decide to start mediation. The research allows a better understanding of the complexity of mediation in an armed conflict. It enables the motives of the conflicting parties and mediator which have an impact on the mediation process and result to be identified.
Mediation as an effective strategy for conflict resolution
9th International Online Conference on Social Researches and Behavioral Sciences SADAB, June 25-27, 2021b Antalya, Turkey. Proceeding Book, ISBN: 978-625-409-155-1, 2021
Mediation plays very important role in conflict resolution. This article describes and analyzes the role of mediation in the conflict resolution process. It discusses what skills a successful mediator should possess. Scholars and experts agree that a good mediator should have the appropriate knowledge, skills, sense of humor, tact, and detailed information about the conflict in which he or she intends to engage. Resolving conflicts is one of the most difficult and complicated issues, which requires special skills and talents. Various methods are used to resolve the conflict (negotiation, mediation, facilitation, arbitration, etc.) International conflict or international disputes are regulated in exactly the same way as disputes within a country. Initially, the parties try to resolve the issue through diplomacy. Although resolving disputes through diplomacy is a priority, when the negotiation process comes to a standstill, the parties turn to a mediator. Good Mediator tries to gain the trust of the rivaling parties and remains neutral and impartial during the conflict resolution process. Various mediation strategies are also analyzed in detail, such as communication-facilitation strategy, procedural strategy and directive strategy. This article describes main factors that need to be considered to properly manage the mediation process.
Security and Defence Quarterly, 2017
Mediation is one of the most commonly used methods for solving armed confl icts due to its fl exibility allowing parties to freely decide about their participation in the mediation, the choice of a mediator, and accepting or rejecting the conditions of confl ict resolution established during the mediation process. Th e article looks at various approaches to mediation, leading to an indication of the nature and attributes of this method of solving armed confl icts. It also analyses the motives of the main actors of mediation-the parties' of the confl ict and the mediator, which are taken into consideration when they decide to start mediation. Th e research allows a better understanding of the complexity of mediation in an armed confl ict. It enables the motives of the confl icting parties and mediator which have an impact on the mediation process and result to be identifi ed.
SSRN Electronic Journal, 2000
The Initiative for Peacebuilding (IfP) is a consortium led by International Alert and funded by the European Commission. IfP draws together the complementary geographic and thematic expertise of 10 civil society organisations (and their networks) with offices across the EU and in conflict-affected countries. Its aim is to develop and harness international knowledge and expertise in the field of conflict prevention and peacebuilding to ensure that all stakeholders, including EU institutions, can access strong independent analysis in order to facilitate better informed and more evidence-based policy decisions. This document has been produced with the financial assistance of the European Union. The contents of this document are the sole responsibility of IfP/swisspeace/CPM/CMI and under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union. To learn more, visit http://www.initiativeforpeacebuilding.org. About swisspeace The Swiss Peace Foundation (swisspeace) is a practice-oriented peace research institute in the area of conflict analysis and peacebuilding. swisspeace researches the causes of wars and violent conflicts, develops tools for early recognition of tensions, and formulates conflict mitigation and peacebuilding strategies. swisspeace contributes to information exchange and networking on current issues of peace and security policy through its analyses and reports as well as meetings and conferences. It was founded in 1988 as the Swiss Peace Foundation, with the goal of promoting independent peace research in Switzerland. The Mediation Support Project (MSP) is a joint venture between swisspeace and the Center for Security Studies (CSS) at the ETH Zurich. MSP was initiated by the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs and supports mediators and conflict parties in gaining knowledge and skills for effective peace negotiations. To learn more, visit www.swisspeace.org/mediation. About Center for Peace Mediation The Center for Peace Mediation, institutionally integrated at the European University Viadrina and cooperating with the Project Humboldt-Viadrina School of Governance, combines the theory and practice of international peace mediation. The Center's work is dedicated to an understanding of interest-based peace mediation as a key concept for constructive peace processes and long-term, sustainable solutions. As an academic institution, the Center for Peace Mediation brings together scholars and practitioners from different fields of conflict resolution and, as an impartial mediation support actor, helps to facilitate ongoing peace processes. To learn more, visit http://www.peacemediation.de. ABOUT CMI The Crisis Management Initiative (CMI) is an independent, non-profit expert organisation. The aim of CMI is to strengthen the capacity and professionalism of international actors in conflict resolution and management, and to mount private diplomacy operations. CMI is the coordinator of the mediation cluster of the Initiative for Peacebuilding. To learn more, visit www.cmi.fi. This paper is a direct outcome of a workshop on evaluating mediation organised by the Crisis Management Initiative under the auspices of the Initiative for Peacebuilding in Brussels on 1st of March 2008. The Terms of Reference for this paper were sourced from the results of the working groups of this workshop.
Patterns of peacemaking: when do we see mediation, and what are the impacts?
International mediation is a form of diplomatic interven- tion aimed at reaching negoti- ated solutions to armed con- flict, political violence and in- ternational crises. Used by states, organizations, groups or individuals, mediation con- tinues to be an important form of peacemaking. This brief outlines the major trends in international mediation, iden- tifies relevant empirical trends and discusses implications for policy.