Editor's Introduction

• Author: Susan S. Raines
• Date: 01 September 2015
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1002/crq.21126
• Published date: 01 September 2015

C R Q, vol. 33, no. 1, Fall 2015 1

© 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. and the Association for Confl ict Resolution

Published online in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com) • DOI: 10.1002/crq.21126

EDITOR’S INTRODUCTION

We begin this issue with three articles that bring us back to the jour-

nal’s fi rst focus: mediation.

 e article by Lewis and Umbreit promotes a model of mediation that

is less focused on process and settlement and more focused on making

connections between people through honest communication. Tjersland,

Gulbrandsen, and Haavind examine the failure of court-ordered media-

tion in high confl ict couples in Norway, and off er some suggestions in the

hope of reducing confl ict and improving cooperation for these families.

Khachaturova and Poimanova used an experimental research design to

examine which mediation style works best in disputes between two people

versus people embedded in larger social groups.  eir fi ndings have sig-

nifi cant implications for those working with parties and on disputes that

impact third parties and are part of a broader social web of relationships.

In their contribution, Katz and Sosa examine the importance of emo-

tion and emotional intelligence as contributing factors in successful nego-

tiations and therefore mediation as well. Rather than always being seen as

an escalating factor, the healthy expression of emotion can benefi t negotia-

tion, and parties with higher degrees of emotional intelligence can harness

the creative and healing power of emotion in the interests of resolution.

 e next two pieces examine cultures with histories of signifi cant vio-

lence to better understand the long-term impact of that violence and how

to turn around these histories into better futures. Mukashema and Mullet

gathered data from the children of genocide perpetrators in Rwanda to see

if they felt guilt for their parents’ behaviors and how this guilt aff ects them,

therefore aff ecting the country’s ongoing recovery. Using Chicago as a con-

text, Megan Lambertz-Berndt examines a part of Chicago that has been

long known for its violence and unrest. She juxtaposes this image with the

amazing work of peacemakers and community builders there, discussing

the need to reframe the images of those impacted by violence as well as the

broader community.

Each of these articles makes a novel contribution to our knowledge in

mediation, negotiation, and confl ict resolution both in the United States

and foreign contexts.