Disadvantages Of Mediation In International Relations

The relations between the states at the international stage are not a static; rather, they are very dynamic and as the higher the interactions are the probability for the disagreements, disputes, conflicts, and ultimately wars are increasing. In the international relations (IR), the states are the only legal actor; hence, a state recognizes the legitimacy of a fellow state with whom the state makes a bilateral relation through the various treaties. Yet, according to the International Law, a state is an independent entity, and has a freedom of action to pursue and defend her national interests in IR. Moreover, a state is protected by law of any interference of other states in her domestic affairs. In order to survive in the anarchical conditions

Simply, from their (i.e., states) point of view, the method of mediation has several advantages. The first, this intervention (i.e., mediation) is non-coercive, non-violent, and ultimately non-binding for the states in conflict; as J.G. Merrills puts, “it has the advantage of allowing them [i.e., states] to retain control of the dispute,” in particular if a matter is of vital national interest (Bercovitch 2004; Merrills 2011, 27-28). The second, mediation is a voluntary form of conflict management; consequently, the parties in conflict may choose: to begin or continue mediation, retain the control over the outcome to accept or reject any agreement, and finally, the states have a control over the proceedings (Bercovitch 2004). Such a freedom of action and confidentiality allow the states to go into a face-saving compromise and make some concessions, which otherwise would never do in a direct negotiation (Merrills 2011, 28). The third, the states in conflict have a freedom to

For the states it is an advantage because of such a freedom of action, choice, and control of the disputed issues including the confidential mode of proceedings; therefore, mediation represents the best way to defend own national interests. However, mediation method of conflict resolutions is not without challenges. Again, let us take a state perspective toward challenges that mediation might brought to the states national interests. Undoubtedly, mediation is a method of conflict resolution whose aim is to stop the conflicts and restore a peace and security. Every mediator tries to reconcile the issues which brought the states into the conflict. So, mediator task is not to judge who is right and who is wrong; rather to reconcile states interests, or persuade them to change their original position due to the higher stakes (Merrills 2011,