At the recent meeting of the ABA Dispute Resolution Section in Denver, Dai Kato of the University of Colorado and Jay Folberg of the JAMS Foundation offered stimulating — even inspirational — examples of modern-day practices of dispute resolution in Japan and Bali. These insights test our assumptions of how dispute resolution really works — what drives the process and how success is measured. Read more »
Continuing with the series on models of conflict resolution that are not based on the parties’ interests, below is reproduced another chapter in a proposed book on alternatives to Western mediation methods. This one — the Arab practice of sulha – is centuries old, pre-dating even the Prophet, and its motivating considerations are an amalgam of the community’s desire for stability, aggrieved parties’ need for restored honor, and accused parties’ need for reconciliation and regaining face.
Vindicating individuals’ particular interests is nowhere to be found. Read more »
As the next installment in a series of essays on alternatives to interest-based negotiation, the Hawaiian practice of ho’oponopono is discussed. In this spiritually-influenced ritual, secular conflicts are identified, brought to the table, admitted, and forgiven, and the family group achieves reconciliation and forgiveness. Read more »
Over the transom from our good friends at the International Mediation Institute comes this announcement:
The Inter-Cultural Taskforce of the IMI Independent Standards Commission (ISC), after a year of meetings and consultation, is publishing for comment Draft Criteria for the planned IMI Inter-Cultural Competency Certification of Mediators.
Organisations approved by the ISC as an Inter-Cultural Qualifying Assessment Program (ICQAP) will assess mediators for their mastery of inter-cultural dynamics and qualify mediators for IMI Inter-Cultural Certification. The launch of this new initiative is planned for late 2011 following a public consultation period and testing of the criteria in a pilot program.
This is the first I heard of this initiative, and all I know is what I read. From what I read…. Read more »