The Role of “Informal Mediators” in Micro-Conflict Resolution: Diyarbakır Case

Abstract

Official law often fails to solve the “micro-conflicts” of society, those being the likes of murder, abduction, and land disputes. In these kinds of situations, in which the official law system alone does not or can not solve conflicts, the mediation method of traditional society becomes useful. The aim of this work is to examine how micro-conflicts are resolved via informal mediation methods, or “traditional law” methods. Informal mediation, known as the traditional or informal law method in conflict resolution literature, is not an alternative to formal law; it serves to complement formal law.. The data used in this paper was collected through five months of field work done in Diyarbakır. This data is analyzed alongside qualitative research such as in-depth interviews, oral histories, and focus group findings. This study is examined informal mediation method, which is done by opinion leaders, from Conflict Resolution and Mediation literatüre perspectives. Field work data from Diyarbakir is compared with data from different cases in other countries.