ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an overview of civil war mediation trends in the post-World War II era. Mediation is an important asset in the diplomatic toolkit alongside, e.g., fact-finding, good offices and bilateral talks. Mediation holds promise for overcoming the devastating impact of civil wars and providing the basis for lasting peace between civil war combatants. Mediation works on two levels. First, mediators can work towards a cease-fire to reduce human costs in the short-term. This is a form of managing the conflict by focusing on disputant behavior. Second, mediation can be part of a comprehensive settlement that provides credible commitment to the peace process. The chapter utilizes new civil war mediation data. Beginning in the mid-1950s until the mid-1990s there was a steady increase in the number of ongoing civil wars. The chapter discusses the identity of mediators, location of mediated wars, and mediation strategies.
