Diffusion vs. Coherence: The Competitive Environment of Multiparty Mediation

Abstract

Over the past 30 years, mediation has become a common tool of conflict management and peacemaking. Over the same period, peace processes have become increasingly complex in recent years due to proliferation of relevant actors, both through the presence of multiple mediators (also known as multiparty mediation) and through the fragmentation of conflict parties. While lessons from the study of collective action dilemmas and multilateral negotiations clarify how to make multiparty mediation more effective, additional approaches are necessary in working with fragmented parties. The paper argues that multiparty mediation can help to deal with the challenge of fragmented parties if the mediation maintains a strong element of coherence as the mediators engage with the conflict parties.

Parts of this paper were presented at the FBA Research Workshop on Mediation for Prevention and Peacemaking, June 7–8, 2017.