ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the general patterns of mediation coalitions. One of the characteristics of contemporary peacemaking is that it involves many mediators. The debate tends to be polarized after a dichotomous division, and previous research discusses whether it is neutral or biased mediators that are the most effective peace brokers. Building on the theoretical framework of bargaining, the chapter argues that combinations of different types of mediators are essential for mediation success, because mediation coalitions can both collect and transmit information, which are processes that one type of mediator will be less able to do solely by itself. One of the primary explanations for war from the bargaining perspective, despite its inherent cost, is information failure. Coalitions that are uncoordinated would not be able to combine the effort to collect and reveal information and thereby be less likely to be able to mitigate the information failure problem.
