ABSTRACT
This chapter looks at the role of culture and religion in mediation and conflict resolution practices and argues that an approach that relegates culture and religion to the periphery can be ineffective and even inadequate. It explores the role of culture, religion, and identity and their impacts on mediation contexts and processes with particular attention to the often Eurocentric character of mediation models, especially in international contexts, that ignore the power dynamics introduced by third parties intervening in conflict situations. The chapter examines mediation as a form of intervention in conflict contexts, an inherently political act. It argues that attention to culture and religion is critical to politicizing mediation processes and interventions. The chapter discusses the power dynamics of conflict contexts by both interrogating the claims to neutrality of third parties and underscoring the importance of relationships and relational approaches to mediation.
