ABSTRACT
Linking faith-based actors to mediator identity, this chapter argues that the religious identity of the mediator can play an important and complementary role in resolving disputes in ethno-religious conflicts. It discusses advantages of faith-based mediators, such as legitimacy, motivation, leverage, and resources, and explores some of the potential impacts of faith-based actors during mediation including trust building, facilitating communication, enhancing shared identities, and altering perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors. As a dynamic and complex process, the chapter defines mediation as a conflict resolution tool where a third party assists involved parties with ending violence and finding a peaceful solution to conflict. The religious identity of the mediator can play an important and complementary role in resolving disputes in ethno-religious conflicts. The identity of the mediator influences the success of the process because mediation as an interactive process occurs around the influence and impact mediators wield. Mediator leverage, or power, is an important element of influence during the mediation process.
