ABSTRACT
Mediation theories, processes and skills are increasingly applied to the resolution of conflicts within and between nation-states as well as between governmental and non-governmental organizations seeking to work together to provide humanitarian relief. Mediation has become a catch-all term, often referring to collaborative problem-solving and consensus-building processes used to make collective decisions regarding a wide range of issues including the environment, trade, and diplomacy. This chapter examines the strategies and stages used in successful mediation, drawing on the cases of Northern Ireland and Colombia to illustrate. Although key challenges remain in the field of mediation, including the blurring of the lines between Track 1 and Track 2 efforts, and the challenge of convincing parties to mediate, mediation remains a critical mechanism in the international arena.
