Purpose – This paper aims to provide a structured overview of the most important research conducted in the field of international mediation. Although there are still strong similarities between the processes of international and domestic mediation, lack of a clear structure on the international level suggests that international mediation activities could be separately academically scrutinized. This literature review is aimed at illustrating the unique nature of international mediation. Design/methodology/approach – Various factors that affect the overall process and the outcome of international mediation efforts were clustered in four distinct yet interrelated groups. The first section illustrates various mediators' characteristics that might induce the disputants to accept mediation and agree to specific terms that were mediated in the process. In the second section two distinct factors affecting the mediation outcome were explained: contextual and behavioral. Finally, in the third sections various types of mediators were discussed. Findings – The article shows the intricate complexities of international mediation, highlighting four distinct features that might have an effect on the mediation outcome: mediator's characteristics, contextual features, behavioral factors, and types of mediators. Originality/value – This article attempts to offer a comprehensive overview of the current state of the art in international mediation, and suggests potential areas of future research.

Crucial challenges for multiparty mediation processes include the achievement of adequate cooperation among the mediators and consequent coordination of their activities in the mediation process. Existing literature goes only as far as to make it clear that successful mediation requires necessary cooperation and coordination between mediators, as if these features were exogenous to the process. Available research does not consider whether these features might change over time and if such change could have an impact on the overall mediation process. Experience shows that it is not rare for mediators who were initially willing to pool their resources and act in concert with one another to decide at a later point to stop cooperating. Using a game theoretical model and a comparative analysis of three recent cases of multiparty mediation, this research illustrates the importance of maintaining necessary levels of cooperation and coordination to achieve successful outcomes and provides insights on how to achieve them in case the mediating coalition is faced with internal conflict of interests.

The present study challenges three common assumptions of the international mediation literature. First, it challenges the perception that pure or weak mediators are unable to use manipulative and coercive strategies in the mediation process, but can only resort to facilitating the dialogue and at most formulating a proposal on behalf of the disputants. Secondly, it challenges the perception that only resource-based power can be used to manipulate the process and coerce (and direct) the parties toward mutually acceptable solutions. This misconception is based on the assumption that the expansion of the zone of possible agreement, which is mainly attributed to manipulative strategies, can be achieved only by the employment of carrots and sticks which are often inaccessible to pure or weak mediators. Lastly, it shows how this type of leverage can also indicate a particular bias that an apparent pure mediator might have: bias of outcome.

This volume aims to provide a detailed explanation of the effects of cooperation and coordination on international multiparty mediation in conflicts.Contemporary scholarship stresses that the crucial ingredients for a successful multiparty mediation are 'consistency in interests' and 'cooperation and coordination' between mediators. This book seeks to supplement that understanding by investigating how much the 'consistency of interests' and 'cooperation and coordination' affect the overall process, and what happens to the mediation process when mediating parties do not share the same idea and interest in finding a common solution. At the same time, it explores the obstacles in achieving coordination and coherence between various mediators in such an environment and how to surmount the problems that multiple mediators face when operating without a 'common script' in attempting to mediate a negotiated settlement.The study investigates three distinct mechanisms (both on the systemic and contextual level) that have the potential to deter defection from a (potential) member of the multiparty mediation coalition: geo-political shifts, changes in the conflict dynamics, and mediators' ability to bargain for a cooperative relationship. As the number of states and international actors that are involved in mediation increases, a careful assessment is necessary not only of their relative institutional strengths and weaknesses, but also of how to promote complementary efforts and how to synchronize the whole process when one actor is transferring the responsibilities for mediation to others. This book will be of much interest to students of mediation, conflict management, war and conflict studies, security studies and IR.

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