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International mediation as a form of conflict management
Mediation is now widely used in international relations to resolve conflicts in the most peaceful way possible. It is important to reach a constructive resolution in a peaceful manner because conflicts can escalate to a great level of violence and during this modern time every country is backed by sophisticated weaponry. Countries can have an antagonist feeling towards one another or they can help each other guard their independence. International mediation is usable too to resolve disputes among the countries involved.
There is an intense level of secrecy and a lot of confidential documents, needless to mention the strict security measures that not only make research tough but also make it difficult for the third-parties to get used to such an environment of conflict in the first place. As a result of such a level of secrecy, specific details hardly emerge and precise definitions are mostly controversial. In international mediation, confidentiality in the process is cruel by the way it works. All the meetings and considerations are supposed to be understood and carried out point to point. It is often difficult to say if there has been any mediation going on at all, or the place where the mediation might take place. All documents, tools, papers, signed copies, verbal considerations, and even casual notes are controversial and without prejudice at all times. Mediators are also not allowed to take part in any legal proceeding, be it as a witness or to defend a party.
The techniques that are strategized in international mediation depend largely on the circumstances and issues that concern the conflict, the tension between the countries that arose because of the conflict, and definitely, the kind of relationship manifested between the countries before the conflict.
Mediation comes into play when countries struggle to come to a middle ground. It happens when the parties can take the conflict to nowhere. Also, sometimes when parties decide to make a cost-effective settlement they jointly decide on to conduct the mediation procedure to resolve the dispute. The mediation then can take place between the parties directly or indirectly, provided how the countries decide to proceed.
The mediator is supposed to be an effective negotiator and he/she is the neutral third-party. It can also be a group of people, organization, or a state who carry out the role of a mediator to make the countries agree. The third-party isn’t supposed to impose ideas on disputants but rather work neutrally to help them resolve their dispute.
There should be a willingness on part of both the countries and only then mediation and help to get closure. The context of the conflict, the relationship between the parties, the nature of the conflict, the issues at stake at the particular time and place creates the situation in which mediation can either be effective or will be a failed option. The idea is to reach a peaceful resolution without resorting to any legal actions but above all, to avoid force and violence. It is an extremely volatile and dynamic field that involves many complexities socially, politically, and ethically.
- Countries
- Neutral party
- Strict security
