Mediation as a Global Phenomenon

Abstract

Mediation is thus a conflict mediation procedure in which an impartial “third party” mediates between at least two other conflict parties. In psychological theories of Western sciences, the handling of conflict via third parties is also referred to as “triangulation”. If one defines mediation in such an open way, it soon becomes apparent that mediation already exists as a conflict resolution procedure in many societies and cultures, and that mediation by an impartial person seems to be a kind of universal conflict resolution strategy. At the same time, however, there are indications that the different cultures have developed differentiated methods of the conflict resolution in a culturally adapted and differentiated way. On the one hand, as mediators in the intercultural field, we can assume that even when we meet people from other cultural circles, we apply a conflict resolution strategy that is based on a certain “universal” familiarity level, or it meets collective knowledge. Accordingly, we can assume that the term mediation and the concept behind it are relatively likely to have different components of meaning and nuances with which we are not necessarily familiar, but which the foreign-culture conflict party may assume we know. The expectations of setting, role definitions and contents of mediation therefore require special attention in intercultural mediation.