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Peacebuilding is essentially about long term processes of changing the structures, attitudes and behaviours which drive and sustain conflict and instability. However, there are critical junctures in conflictual situations where agreement needs to be reached amongst the conflict parties to resolve and collectively address key issues. In many settings, the conflict parties can be motivated, assisted and financed by third parties to sit down together to talk through these issues. If accepted, the third parties can provide important support through mediation and expert advice.
Mediation and dialogue processes and their professional application can increase the likelihood for sustainable peace. Their application ranges from both the official level between political elites to a societal level. At best, mediation processes are embedded and/or complemented through dialogue processes. Techniques and methodologies applied and substantive approaches can vary according to the underlying and contextual issues that have driven the conflict. Whilst mediation and dialogue processes might differ in terms of contextual issues, there are nevertheless some key principles as well as techniques that form the backbone of its practice.
Despite the potential of mediation and dialogue facilitation to be a key mechanism for conflict resolution and peacebuilding for the EU more generally, they are still underutilized and not yet fully understood. This IfP cluster, therefore, seeks to deepen the understanding and sensitivity of policy makers and practioners of the European Union institutions as well as non-state actors involved in mediation and conflict resolution through research, casartti Ahtisaari on: Mediation in the EUe studies, thematic papers and dialogue between experts and practioners. The work will cover country-specific settings in Europe (Kosovo, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia), Asia (Nepal and Aceh) and Africa (DRC and Sudan) and will draw out thematic issues and challenges (such as transitional justice, gender and DDR). The ultimate aim is to increase the capacity of the EU, as well as non state actors and the field, to conduct and/or offer more effective support to mediation and dialogue processes.
The IfP partners collaborating in this work are Crisis Management Initiative (CMI), European Peacebuilding Liason Office (EPLO), International Alert, International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ) and Partners for Democratic Change International (PDCI).
Cluster coordinator: Antje Herrberg
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NEW FILMS
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LATEST MEDIATION PUBLICATIONS
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Georgia’s Conflicts
What Role for the EU as Mediator?
Author(s): Magdalena Frichova Grono
2010-03-31
The EU has taken on a robust conflict resolution role in Georgia since August 2008 but its mediation efforts have had limited results to date. Assorted political and bureaucratic hurdles, unlikely to be fully addressed by the implementation of the Lisbon Treaty, have constrained its efforts. The EU has also failed to develop effective strategic links between its mediation efforts on Georgia’s conflicts and its separate bilateral negotiations with each of Georgia and Russia. Its determination to respect Georgia’s territorial integrity, while politically understandable, has impacted on the EU’s acceptability as a mediator to some of the parties. The EU should seek to engage in a more nuanced and strategic way. |
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What is a good mediator?
Personal insights on the essentials of a good mediator
Author(s): Martti Ahtisaari, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate 2008
2009-08-11
Through his constant efforts and personal commitment, Mr. Ahtisaari has demonstrated how important mediation can be for the resolution of international conflicts. This paper summarizes and brings out key issues brought out in the filmed discussion between Martti Ahtisaari and Antje Herrberg to provide insights into some of his personal working principles. It should be noted that this account is one of the multitude of approaches in mediation, thus this paper does not claim to list all essential characteristics of a good mediator or Mr. Ahtisaari himself. Please find the three short films linked to initiative at http://www.initiativeforpeacebuilding.eu/video/index.php |
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Negotiating Peace in Indonesia
Prospects for Building Peace and Upholding Justice in Maluku and Aceh
Author(s): Scott Cunliffe, Eddie Riyadi, Raimondus Arwalembun, Hendrik Boli Tobi
2009-06-26
Indonesia's history is littered with countless episodes of mass violence whether state-sponsored, communally driven, or separatist in nature. A decade into democratic reform, the Indonesian government has successfully negotiated several peace agreements and brought about an end to mass human rights violations. This report examines two such cases, the peace negotiations for Maluku and Aceh, with particular emphasis on issues pertaining to justice and accountability. It describes the dynamics of peace negotiations, identifies how transitional justice mechanisms such as prosecutions, amnesty, truth-seeking, reparations and institutional reform were addressed by negotiators and assesses post-agreement implementation of justice-related provisions. |
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