Assignment: Negotiation and Third Party Mediation

Negotiation and third party mediation are two common approaches to resolving disputes. Some conflicts are better addressed through negotiation, and other conflicts are better addressed through third party mediation. Understanding both approaches to resolution helps you to distinguish between the two and understand which to apply to a given conflict.

To prepare for this assignment:

• Review Chapter 8 in your course text, The Dynamics of Conflict Resolution. Focus on the definition of and popular assumptions about negotiation.
• Review Chapter 10 in your course text, The Dynamics of Conflict Resolution. Pay particular attention to the premise of mediation and what mediators bring to the table.
• Think about similarities and differences between negotiation and third party mediation.
• Select an intergroup conflict with which you are familiar.
• Consider whether the conflict would be better addressed through negotiation or third party mediation.

The assignment: (1–2 pages)

• Briefly compare (similarities and differences between) negotiation and third party mediation.
• Explain any insights that you had or conclusions that you now can draw based on your comparison.
• Explain whether you think the conflict that you selected would be better addressed through negotiation or third party mediation and why you think that your selection would be most appropriate and/or effective.
• Explain how you might use the approach that you selected.

Support your Application Assignment with specific references to all resources used in its preparation. You are asked to provide a reference list only for those resources not included in the Learning Resources for this course.