Mediating Conflicts

1 Credit · Level: Undergraduate

When two or more individuals or groups are in conflict, the role of a mediator can be critical in restoring trust, rebuilding relationships, and reaching mutually-satisfying agreements. Mediation happens in international conflicts, peace processes, community centers, pre-court settings, government and labor disputes, schools, human resources departments and ombudsman offices, as well as in less formal ways dealing with family and interpersonal conflicts. Whether aiming for a career in mediation or peacebuilding - or simply wishing to enhance their personal and professional lives - students in this weekend intensive will receive basic concepts, skills, and hands-on practices of mediating conflicts. Both insider-multi-partial and outsider-impartial models, as well as notions of empathy, equity, power dynamics, trauma and the nervous system, and religion and spirituality, may be considered.