Mediation of International Conflicts
This book examines the use of third-party mediation as a conflict resolution method.
In an attempt to explain why some, but not all, conflicts are mediated, this work argues that diverse conflict structures are inherently different in their susceptibility to mediation attempts. By offering a systematic method for measuring the transformability of conflict structures, this book contributes to our understanding of the sufficient and necessary conditions for mediation. In addition, the study offers an analytical framework for the examination of mediation as a trilateral rational bargaining process. Although the general concept of mediation as a three-person game is not new, most studies focus on either the disputants perspectives or the mediators perspective. In contrast, this study integrates the perspectives of all three parties. The framework links the different stages involved in the whole process of mediation, from the onset of mediation, through the mediation strategies used, to the outcome, rather than focusing on one particular aspect. The book applies the framework to two case studies the conflict between Israel and Egypt and the conflict between India and Pakistan and provides new insights into these conflicts from a mediation perspective. In general, the model developed here provides a framework for systematically assessing conflicts and the options available to those involved in the mediation process.
This book will be of great interest to students of conflict resolution, mediation, war and conflict studies, Asian politics, Middle Eastern politics and IR in general.
Lesley G. Terris is Assistant Professor in the Lauder School of Government at The Interdisciplinary Center, Herzliya, Israel, and has a PhD in political science from Tel Aviv University.
Series: Security and Conflict Management
Series Editors:
Fen Osler Hampson
Carleton University, Canada
Chester Crocker
Georgetown University, Washington DC
Pamela Aall
United States Institute of Peace, Washington DC
This series will publish the best work in the field of security studies and conflict management. In particular, it will promote leading-edge work that straddles the divides between conflict management and security studies, between academics and practitioners, and between disciplines.
Human Security in Turkey
Challenges for the 21st century
Alpaslan zerdem and Fsun zerdem (eds)
Understanding Complex Military Operations
A case study approach
Edited by Karen Guttieri, Volker Franke and Melanne A. Civic
Regional Organisations and Peacemaking
Challengers to the UN
Edited by Peter Wallensteen and Anders Bjurner
International Mediation Bias and Peacemaking
Taking sides in civil wars
Isak Svensson
Conflict Management in International Missions
A field guide
Olav Ofstad
International Multiparty Mediation and Conflict Management
Challenges of cooperation and coordination
Sinia Vukovi
Mediation of International Conflicts
A rational model
Lesley G. Terris
First published 2017
by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN
and by Routledge
711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
2017 Lesley G. Terris
The right of Lesley G. Terris to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by him/her in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation without intent to infringe.
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Names: Terris, Lesley G., author.
Title: Mediation of international conflicts : a rational model / Lesley G. Terris.
Description: Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon ; New York, NY : Routledge,
2017. | Series: Security and conflict management | Includes bibliographical
references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2016032190 | ISBN 9781138205093 (hardback) |
ISBN 9781315467771 (ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: Mediation, International. | Mediation, InternationalCase
studies. | Diplomatic negotiations in international disputes. | Diplomatic
negotiations in international disputesCase studies. | EgyptForeign
relationsIsrael. | IsraelForeign relationsEgypt. | IndiaForeign
relationsPakistan. | PakistanForeign relationsIndia.
Classification: LCC JZ6045 .T45 2017 | DDC 341.5/2dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2016032190
ISBN: 978-1-138-20509-3 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-1-315-46777-1 (ebk)
Typeset in Times New Roman
by Apex CoVantage, LLC
The origins of this book lie in my doctoral dissertation, written at Tel Aviv University. Approaching the question of the mediation of international disputes from a rational perspective, the book sets out to explain when, why and with whom disputing parties will engage in a mediation process; when, why and with whom third parties will be willing to intervene; the conditions under which the parties will stick to a mediation process; and, finally, the conditions that promote mediation success.
Many people helped me in bringing this book to fruition. First and foremost, I am deeply indebted to Zeev Maoz for his wise guidance and generous mentorship and for teaching me to ask the hard questions when I thought I already had the answers. I wish to thank also Alex Mintz and Boaz Ganor for providing me with an academic home at the Lauder School of Government, Diplomacy and Strategy at the Interdisciplinary Center (IDC) Herzliya and for their much-appreciated support and encouragement in this project.
Many colleagues and friends provided both valuable comments on the ideas developed in this study and moral support along the way. Jacob Bercovitch stood out in his willingness to share his boundless knowledge and insights on mediation and in his deep appreciation for the need to study mediation systematically. Sadly, Jacobs untimely death in 2011 cut short a rich academic career. I wish to acknowledge the valuable input I have received over the years from Haim Assa, Steven Brams, Chris Kondaki, Paul Diehl, William Dixon, Scott Gartner, Galia Golan, Michal Shavit, Oded Tamuz, Orit Tykocinski, Jonathan Wilkenfeld and Dror Zeevi. I am greatly appreciative of the feedback at various conferences to key concepts developed in this book, by Victor Asal, Tobias Bmoelt, Govinda Clayton, Karl DeRoeun, Ranan Kuperman, Carmela Lutmar and Molly Melin.
I am grateful Jacob Bercovitch, William Dixon and Derrick Frazier for granting access to their quantitative data. My sincere thanks also to Eliyahu Greitzner, Gregory Ivinya and Adi Sarid for their wise counsel on mathematical and statistical issues.
