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DTSTAMP:20260421T092032Z
DTSTART:20171011T143000Z
DTEND:20171011T173000Z
SUMMARY:Mediating political conflict in times of crisis: the past\, prese
 nt and future of the most common and suitable type of disputes for media
 tors
DESCRIPTION:A famous French author used to say that arbitration is the gr
 eatest peacekeeper. Perhaps\, but isn’t it so because arbitration borrow
 s its reconciling spirit from mediation? And what about the power of med
 iation\, especially in a political frame work where disputes reach such 
 a confrontational level that the recourse to violence is nearby? History
  shows that\, often\, mediation was used in every continent to resolve\,
  effectively\, a bitter dispute and even sometimes wars that could not h
 ave ended otherwise. Examples from the past where mediation was effectiv
 ely used are legion – Poland in the 1980s\, Ireland\, Israel/Palestine\,
  Cuba\, the Koreas\, Cambodia and Myanmar – until today and perhaps even
  more in our current world of tensions\, crispation and ‘post-fact’ or ‘
 alternative facts’. It is sufficient to think of the disruption caused b
 y new waves of refugees\, including those caused by climate change and t
 he ‘uberisation’ of the economy. More than ever\, mediation\, primarily 
 flexible\, resolution-focused and not fact-orientated\, is needed in an 
 era of profound change and violent transitions\, and conflict is often t
 he result of significant economic\, social and political changes that ha
 ve taken place throughout history.\n\nPeople\, often wise experts or tho
 se with an international or wellrespected stature\, well-acquainted with
  those in-depth changes\, will make the difference and bridge the gap. A
 lso\, collaborative\, agreedupon interest-based processes can allow peop
 le to ‘socialise’ these conflicts to address their causes through group 
 dialogue and discussion and recommendations for preventative\, system-wi
 de\, strategic improvement without political intrigue and infighting or 
 recourse to violence. The responsibility for resolving conflicts can the
 n go beyond a limited circle of aggressive antagonists to encompass alli
 es\, secret partners\, neutral bystanders and others whose relationships
  to the participants or issues could make peaceful solutions possible. P
 layers of that nature\, coming from different backgrounds and regions wi
 ll be invited to speak and share their experience and input\, just to sh
 ow that\, if the German philosopher Thomas Mann was right to say ‘everyt
 hing is politics’\, mediating politics is the key to everything\, especi
 ally peace building.
LOCATION:Room C3.5\, Convention Centre\, Level 3
UID:82a55115-651a-4993-a076-418903eaec95
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