Editorial

Citation

Posthuma, R.A. (2014), "Editorial", International Journal of Conflict Management, Vol. 25 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCMA-11-2013-0096

Editorial

Article Type: Editorial From: International Journal of Conflict Management, Volume 25, Issue 1

Introduction to the special issue on international perspectives on mediation

This special issue focuses on mediation as an important third-party conflict resolution technique. Unlike negotiation, which can involve only two parties in a dispute, mediation always involves a third-party actor – the mediator. The role of the mediator is to help the two disputing parties resolve their conflict. There have been many studies that have examined the factors that can make mediation a successful dispute resolution technique in Anglo countries. However, this special issue takes an international perspective by including scholars and data from many different countries (China, Israel, The Netherlands, Sweden, and Turkey). The papers also deal specifically with the topic of the mediation of international disputes.

The empirical paper by Deng and Xu uses discourse analysis to study transcribed recordings of mediation cases in China. The study finds that the mediator’s position was based on embedded power in the process, and that mediator neutrality was less of a concern than justice. It is suggested that in China, mediation as a conflict resolution technique can be facilitated by emphasizing common goals of the disputants, saving face, and status issues.

An empirical paper by Galin studies labor court mediation cases in Israel. The findings suggest that parties usually accept referrals to mediation. Also, mediators were more active than disputants in the process and were more likely to use soft as opposed to pressure tactics. Successful resolutions were more likely when the ratio of soft to pressure tactics was higher and the mediator contributed more to the process.

An empirical paper by Kozan et al. studies managers acting as mediators in disputes involving subordinates in Turkey. Drawing on social judgment theory, the study finds that a manager’s power-referent base increases intervention in subordinates’ conflicts. However, manager reward power is seen as the rationale for decreased mediation that is replaced by restructuring, arbitration, and education strategies. Subordinates are more satisfied when the manager mediates and is not distanced from the conflict.

The conceptual paper by Vukovic explains how international mediation shares some similarities with domestic mediation, but elucidates that an international context adds nuances and complexities that make it a particularly interesting and challenging process. The author proposes that this renders international mediation even more prone to the influence of self-interest, which can exacerbate conflict and impair the likelihood of conflict resolution.

In a second conceptual paper, Duursma reviews the literature on international mediation based on three phases:

1. antecedents to mediation;

2. approaches to mediation; and

3. outcomes.

He notes that much of the literature has studied mediation as a method to avoid armed conflicts, but calls for more research on other outcomes. He notes that the relationship between mediation and negative peace has been studied, but more research is needed on how mediation affects positive peace and also the inter-linkages between different phases of mediation.

These five studies triangulate research techniques by case study, empirical data, and conceptual theory-building. This illustrates how a variety of research methods can and should be used to advance our understanding of mediation as a conflict resolution process. In addition, these studies illustrate how mediation is not solely a Western phenomenon; it is widely used within many different countries and is broadly applicable to many international disputes.

Richard A. Posthuma