The promise of mediation

Description

The award-winning first edition of The Promise of Mediation, published ten years ago, is a landmark classic that changed the field's understanding of the theory and practice of conflict intervention. That volume first articulated the "transformative model" of mediation, which greatly humanized the vision of how the mediation process could help parties in conflict. In the past decade, the transformative model has proved itself and gained increasing acceptance. It is now being used in such diverse arenas as workplace, community, family, organizational, and public policy conflicts, among others. In this new edition, the authors draw on a decade of work in theory development, training, practice, research, and assessment to present a thoroughly revised and updated account of the transformative model of mediation and its practical application, including a compelling description of how the field has moved toward increasing acceptance of th...

Description

Over the past three decades mediation has been increasingly used as an alternative process for resolving disputes. But as the field has grown and become institutionalized, mediators have come under increasing pressure to take a directive approach to practice in order to generate agreements and solve problems. The "problem-solving" approach - where reaching agreement is paramount - now characterizes the contemporary mediation movement. This approach, say authors Robert A. Baruch Bush and Joseph P. Folger, neglects the most important dimension of the process: its potential to change the people themselves who are in the very midst of conflict - giving them both a greater sense of their own efficacy and a greater openness to others. The Promise of Mediation explores the transformative potential of mediation, showing what that potential is, why it is important, and how it can be realized in practice. The authors present an alternative theoretical framework for understanding conflict and mediation, based on valuing both personal strength and compassion for others. They offer a highly concrete, case-illustrated introduction to the actual practice of transformative mediation, using a range of examples and two detailed case studies.

Subjects

Series Statement

• The Jossey-Bass conflict resolution series

Other Editions

• The promise of mediation: responding to conflict through empowerment and recognitionJossey-Bass1994-01-01
• The Promise of MediationElectronic resourceJohn Wiley & Sons, Ltd.2004-01-01
• The Promise of MediationHardcoverJossey-Bass2004-10-25
• The promise of mediationJossey-Bass2005-01-01
• The promise of mediation