Conflicts in the international system, both among and within states, bring death, destruction, and human misery. Understanding how third parties use mediation to encourage settlements and establish a durable peace among belligerents is vital for managing these conflicts. Among many features, this book empirically examines the history of post-World War II mediation efforts to: Chart the historical changes in the types of conflicts that mediation addresses and the links between different mediation efforts across time. Explore the roles played by providers of mediation in the international system - namely, individuals, states, and organizations - in managing violent conflicts. Gauge the influence of self-interest and altruism as motivating forces that determine which conflicts are mediated and which are ignored. Evaluate what we know about the willingness of parties in conflict to accept mediation, when and why it is most effective, and discuss the future challenges facing mediators in the contemporary world. Drawing on a wide range of examples from the Oslo Accords and Good Friday Agreement to efforts to manage the civil wars in Burundi, Tajikistan, and Bosnia, this book is an indispensable guide to international mediation for students, practitioners, and general readers seeking to understand better how third parties can use mediation to deal with the globe s trouble spots.

Conflicts in the international system, both among and withinstates, bring death, destruction, and human misery. Understandinghow third parties use mediation to encourage settlements andestablish a durable peace among belligerents is vital for managingthese conflicts. Among many features, this book empiricallyexamines the history of post-World War II mediation effortsto:* Chart the historical changes in the types of conflicts thatmediation addresses and the links between different mediationefforts across time.* Explore the roles played by providers of mediation in theinternational system - namely, individuals, states, andorganizations - in managing violent conflicts.* Gauge the influence of self-interest and altruism as motivatingforces that determine which conflicts are mediated and which areignored.* Evaluate what we know about the willingness of parties inconflict to accept mediation, when and why it is most effectiveand discuss the future challenges facing mediators in thecontemporary world.Drawing on a wide range of examples from the Oslo Accords and GoodFriday Agreement to efforts to manage the civil wars in BurundiTajikistan, and Bosnia, this book is an indispensable guide tointernational mediation for students, practitioners, and generalreaders seeking to understand better how third parties can usemediation to deal with the globe's trouble spots.

AcknowledgementsDedicationList of FiguresList of Tables1 Introduction2 The Application of Mediation to Violent Conflicts3 The Providers of Mediation4 The Success and Failure of Mediation5 The Connections and Consequences of Individual MediationEfforts6 Evolving Challenges for International MediationAppendixReferences and Suggested ReadingsIndex