International Mediation, Selection Effects, and the Question of Bias*

Bernd Beber

Conflict Management and Peace Science, 2012, vol. 29, issue 4, 397-424

Abstract: International mediation of violent conflicts is commonplace in today’s world, and so is academic research on its features and effectiveness. But research that speaks to both the initiation and implementation of mediation remains relatively rare. This article outlines a theoretical and empirical argument that contributes to filling this gap and suggests a counterintuitive selection effect: potential mediators that are likely to resolve a dispute are unlikely to select into mediation. The argument hinges on the claim that mediation by biased third parties is relatively ineffective, and I provide qualitative evidence to suggest that this claim is plausible.

Keywords: bias; conflict management; mediation; third parties (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2012
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:compsc:v:29:y:2012:i:4:p:397-424

DOI: 10.1177/0738894212449091

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