ABSTRACT
A central question for conflict scholars and a point of considerable debate has been: to what extent do conflict management efforts matter? Studies regarding effectiveness have produced a wide range of results not in the least dependent upon the management technique employed. Additionally, and directly related to arguments about effectiveness, are those contentions over which type of conflict manager is in the best position to bring about a peaceful resolution to a dispute. In this chapter, we seek to provide more definitive conclusions regarding both the effectiveness of different conflict managers and techniques using new data on third-party intermediary activity in militarized interstate disputes (MIDs).
