Non-Muscular Mediation: A Hopeless Undertaking or the Way to Peace?
Non-Muscular Mediation: A Hopeless Undertaking or the Way to Peace?

Summary/Abstract: The domain of conflict resolution is broad since peace and international security are at the centre of the United Nations (UN). From the beginning, UN member states have pledged to pursue peaceful resolutions through different techniques. In this sense, mediation has proven to be especially desirable. However, mediation as an elaborated and detailed process is not some mathematical operation which no matter how many times is repeated, always arrives to the same result. Indeed, mediation can fail at all its levels, and especially where it concerns different kinds of international conflict. At this stage, who mediates and how represents a relevant matter linked to power. Attempts at mediation on the part of international institutions, small states or high-profile personalities can contribute to conflict resolution worldwide. Nevertheless, when considering the historical record, it seems that mediation can result in peace only after the involvement of a powerful third party. Is this a fact or a mere impression? To examine this dichotomy, the article focuses on the differences between “non-muscular mediation” and “muscular mediation”, based mostly on the experiences of the XXIst century. Using the available empirical data, we seek to update the conceptual framework aimed at understanding how mediation can be successful in the present day.

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