ABSTRACT
Mediators rarely inherit a viable and well-thought-out peace process and negotiating structure. Recognizing that every conflict is unique, the first step in building a negotiating strategy is an exhaustive analysis of where matters stand in the conflict and what accounts for its intractability. Such analysis is the essential starting point regardless of whether the mediator is invited by the parties to enter the fray or decides to seize the initiative. The mediator's start-up analysis continues with a deep examination of the balance of forces at the local, regional and global levels at play in the conflict. Careful assessment of a conflict's external context tells a mediator how others are likely to react to a fresh mediation initiative, whether there are key interested parties who could thwart or assist the effort, and how to broaden the base of the mediation.
