The context of mediation

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William Smith's article, Effectiveness of the Biased Mediator makes several important points, and has stimulated my thinking on several issues. I shall, however, confine my comments to a single subject-one with theoretical implications for the general study of negotiation. This subject is the contrast between the and the models of mediation. Smith's discussion of these models takes off from Pruitt's comments on versus non-traditional mediation, 1 and develops them further. In explaining why biased mediation is possible in the international arena, he describes and characterizes two contrasting models. Smith implies, rightly I believe, that we need not designate one model as useful and discard the other. By calling one and the other international, he suggests that both can be useful, and that each may be valid within a different situation or context. What now needs to be done is to identify and delimit their respective domains. While Smith's description and characterization of the two models is a helpful starting point, he stops short of stating the models' full implications. Perhaps, as his terminology suggests, he was not aware of these implications. Some preliminary comments about Smith's terminology may be useful at this point. The term refers to traditional notions or theories of mediation, whereas refers to an empirical domain or context. The two terms do not contrast, and their juxtaposition can be misleading. The model of mediation refers to traditional thinking, not to historical periods; it should not be contrasted with modern. On the contrary, the traditional model corresponds to certain contemporary situations. Likewise, the model should not be contrasted with a model. On the contrary, it is conceivable that mediation corresponding to the model can also take place within states. In other words, it is possible for a biased mediator to be effective in a domestic conflict, and for an impartial one to mediate successfully in the international arena.