Lecture 10: International mediation 1/3 Flashcards
What is mediation in conflict resolution?
Mediation is a process in which one or more third parties assist the parties in conflict in reaching a solution they are either unable or unwilling to find on their own.
Why do parties accept mediation in negotiations?
Parties accept mediation because they believe it will work in their favor, often hinting towards ripeness for a better outcome than they can achieve by fighting.
What are the four types of mediators in conflict resolution?
- States
- International and regional organizations
- Religious organizations, humanitarian NGOs, advocacy groups
- Illustrious individuals
What are the characteristics of states as mediators?
- Superpowers: leverage, resources, bias, power asymmetry
- Small-sized: lack of leverage, lack of resources, less biased, tend to win other parties’ trust more than superpowers
What are the characteristics of international and regional organizations as mediators?
- Smoke screen for state activities
- Mandated by their charters
- Promotion of peace as a value
- Interested in particular outcomes compatible with their raison d’être
- Organizational limitations (operating principles, statutes, membership, procedures)
What are the characteristics of religious organizations, humanitarian NGOs, and advocacy groups as mediators?
- Autonomous, not answerable to governments
- Long-term presence in conflict areas
- Recognition of early warning signals
- Close relationships with local officials
- Documentation and long-term economic development projects
- Low level of intrusiveness and limited leverage
What are the characteristics of illustrious individuals as mediators?
Known worldwide for integrity and moral stature, such as Nobel Peace Prize winners like Martti Ahtisaari, Desmond Tutu, and Nelson Mandela.
Why is mediation investment significant and how does partiality play a role?
Mediation requires significant investment. Outside actors mediate because they have an interest in finding a solution compatible with their interests. This includes humanitarian concerns, offensive concerns, defensive concerns, reputational interests, and promoting principles, values, and norms.
What are the biases of actors and outcomes in mediation?
- Bias of actor: Closeness to one party implies delivering that party to an agreement but can be a liability if perceived as favoring one side.
- Bias of outcome: Mediators are not indifferent to the nature of the agreement.
What are the types of power mediators use?
- Strategic Power:
- Legitimate power
- Expert power
- Information power
- Referent power
- Reward power
- Coercive power - Tactical Power:
- Communication tactics
- Image tactics
- Momentum tactics
What considerations must a mediator take regarding the nature of the parties?
- Party arithmetic: Identifying the disputing sides and spoilers.
- Internal cohesiveness: Two-level games, low cohesiveness leads to confusion.
- Regime type: Liberal peace theory, democracies are more amenable to settling conflicts peacefully.
What are the three crucial aspects of ripeness in conflict resolution?
- Mutually Hurting Stalemate (MHS)
- Way Out (WO)
- Mutually Enticing Opportunity (MEO)
What factors affect the tractability of a conflict?
- Intensity: More fatalities increase chances of parties accepting mediation, but lessens chances of success.
- Issues: Conflicts often encompass multiple issues like sovereignty, ideology, security, and self-determination.
How do mediators get involved and what is their role?
Involvement: Ad hoc, voluntary, non-coercive, legally non-binding.
Role: Expanding ZOPA, information exchange, implementation, political cover. Facilitating, formulating, and reframing issues.
What determines the credibility of the mediator?
- Believability of the mediator’s offer.
- Ability to deliver the offer.
- Track record and reputation.
What challenges arise during the implementation of peace agreements?
- Peace agreements contain principles, not specifics.
- Easy to escape implementation, blame can be shifted.
- Same threats and power dynamics persist.
- Strong pressure to default from below.
What are the signals of commitment in negotiation and implementation?
- Entering negotiation
- Each concession
- Signing an agreement
- Action to meet local needs for assurance and experiencing the peace dividend.
What actions are involved in the implementation of peace agreements?
- Power sharing
- Demilitarization
- Reforms in security, judicial, social, and economic sectors
- Keeping to the schedule to build momentum and put out fires
What are common reasons for failure to implement peace agreements?
- By choice
- Lack of resources, ability, or expertise
- Focusing on long-term issues and forgetting immediate concerns
- Failure to manage small catastrophes
What roles do third parties play in implementation?
1.Hold parties to their word
2.Decrease costs and increase benefits
3.Marshal resources
4.Nurture the moderate middle
5.Address spoilers, constituents, splinter groups, and disagreements
What defines successful mediation?
Bringing the parties to the table, signing an agreement, and making it stick despite definitional shortcomings like arbitrary definitions and oversimplified understanding.
