Social Mediation as a grassroots method fostering sustainable community collaboration

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to introduce social mediation as a non-formal conflict resolution tool that empowers everyday citizens to resolve social conflicts through non-legal and non-political routes. The findings and discussion are based on a series of social mediation workshops undertaken in Cyprus from May 2018 to January 2022 as part of a project initiative aiming to deliver the tool to prospective social mediators. It offers a theoretical background to the need for and the use of Social Mediation in Cyprus, and describes its application in practice. It is based on the experience of the authors, and feedback received during a series of workshops that led to a newly-established Social Mediators Network.