Adaptive Mediation and Conflict Resolution : Peace-making in Colombia, Mozambique, the Philippines, and Syria

This open access book introduces adaptive mediation as an alternative approach that enables mediators to go beyond liberal peace mediation, or other determined-design models of mediation, in the context of contemporary conflict resolution and peace-making initiatives. Adaptive mediation is grounded in complexity theory, and is specifically designed to cope with highly dynamic conflict situations characterized by uncertainty and a lack of predictability. It is also a facilitated mediation process whereby the content of agreements emerges from the parties to the conflict themselves, informed by the context within which the conflict is situated. This book presents the core principles and practices of adaptive mediation in conjunction with empirical evidence from four diverse case studies – Colombia, Mozambique, The Philippines, and Syria – with a view to generate recommendations for how mediators can apply adaptive mediation approaches to resolve and transform contemporary and future armed conflicts.

Cedric de Coning is a research professor with the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI) Center on U.N. and Global Governance, where he coordinates the Effectiveness of Peace Operations Network and leads the Climate-related Peace and Security Risk project. He is also a senior advisor for the African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (ACCORD) and Chief Editor of ACCORD's COVID-19 Conflict and Resilience Monitor.

Ako Muto is Executive Senior Research Fellow at the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Ogata Research Institute for Peace and Development.

Rui Saraiva is a research fellow in the Peacebuilding and Humanitarian Support Team at the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Ogata Sadako Research Institute for Peace and Development.