Blackwell Reference Online

This handbook invites readers who are interested in mediation, negotiation, and conflict resolution to share the perspectives of experts in the field. Contributors include scholars, mediators, trainers, and negotiators, all of whom are passionate about their work.

The handbook takes an interdisciplinary approach to mediation, emphasizing both internal and external factors as important sources of influence when negotiating conflicts. It explores the cultural and institutional frameworks that have shaped intervention processes, and it considers which intervention techniques might work - when, how, and why. Particular topics covered include: understanding variation in mediation programs; the dynamics of power in child custody mediation; pre-mediation strategies for dealing with strong emotions; and developing a conflict-positive organization.

The Blackwell Handbook of Mediation affirms that the study of mediation, negotiation, and conflict resolution has moved beyond experimental research and descriptive analyses into a more sophisticated domain.