The Cultural Environment: Southwest Latinos, Bernalillo County Court, and Mediation Training

The socio-historical development of regional identity and inter-ethnic relationships, specifically the role of legal institutions and procedures, suggests reasons New Mexico Latino identities might be activated making Latinos more susceptible to the cultural message of the mediation forum. The discussion provides background for understanding the disputants in this study, the qualities of the inter-group relationships which are relevant to “principled” or problem-solving negotiations, and the worldview of mediation.