Introduction

Abstract

This special issue of the Journal is devoted to a selection of articles from a number of people who presented papers and workshops at the International Conference held at Maynooth University in September, 2014. The overarching focus of the presentations was expressed in the conference title, Creative Responses to Conflict through Mediation and Restorative Practice. The exceptionally diverse mixture of professionals—presenters and participants—represented a wide range of practitioners, researchers and scholars in the field of conflict transformation. Workshops, presentations and lectures highlighted creative approaches being used in helping to manage and resolve seemingly intractable disputes, build sustainable relationships, move conflict intervention into new areas of practice, and promote competent and ethical practice. Presenters offered ideas that ranged from practice skills for family and commercial mediators to the use of music, drama, art and dance to enable those in conflict to gain fresh perspectives in the search for solutions to their disputes; from reports on research projects examining the applicability and benefits of conflict resolution approaches to reflections on the history and future of the field of conflict intervention; from peacemaking and restorative practices to novel uses of conflict intervention strategies in community policing and dealing with environmental disputes.