NGOs and Ethnic Conflict: Lessons from the Work of the Project on Ethnic Relations in the Balkans

This article examines the impact of nongovernmental organization-sponsored contact and communication on fostering peaceful solutions to ethnic conflict via case studies of the activities of the Project on Ethnic Relations (PER) in Romania, Macedonia, Montenegro, Kosovo, and Serbia. It explores five operational principles that guide PER activity: creating credible, neutral forums for dialogue; maintaining momentum; working within political realities; encouraging indigenous solutions from within existing processes; and acting with the backing of powerful states. These principles explain PER's success as a "weak mediator" of ethnic conflicts. According to this analysis, PER also exhibits organizational characteristics that contribute to success, including nonpartisanship, area expertise and extensive networks of local contacts, and an ability to secure the trust of local actors.
A significant indicator of the success of PER activities is the establishment by conflicting parties of institutionalized mechanisms for addressing their differences. Contrary to the view that electoral competition contributes to conflict, this study finds that the possibility of achieving an electoral advantage by participating cooperatively in conflict resolution activities creates incentives for local actors to recognize opportunities offered by PER activities and leads local actors to heed PER's advice. Finally, the article offers a cautionary observation. While PER's perceived influence with major international actors may contribute to its local successes, once a state actor with the power to impose a solution has committed itself to ending a conflict, its preferences outweigh any local interests in determining the outcome and renders the efforts of a "weak mediator" such as PER irrelevant.     

中国调解与审判关系新论——从历史的视角

调解与审判合一,一直被认为是中国古代司法的优点。但正是因为调审合一有着明显弊端,我国古代司法向近代变迁时呈现出调解游离于审判之外的态势,这是利于依法治国及彻底解决纠纷的因素,值得我们在当代司法中借鉴。     

THE POTENTIAL OF THE FAMILY LAW EDUCATION REFORM PROJECT FOR FAMILY LAWYERS1

Family lawyers are major beneficiaries of the reforms set out in the Family Law Education Reform Project (FLER) Report. This commentary from a veteran family law practitioner explores the needs of the family law bar for the training of law students in practical, interdisciplinary, client‐centered lawyering that goes beyond the traditional case method. I trace many of the current innovations evolving in family law practice and how FLER reforms will not only benefit law schools but also have a major impact in the courts and private practice sector.     

MEDIATIVE EVALUATIONS: THE PROS AND PERILS OF BLENDING ROLES

Child custody evaluators with experience in mediation may be tempted to use mediation skills and strategies in their evaluation processes. This article explores the benefits and risks of blending mediation with evaluation, comparing the perspectives of professionals and clients.     

论人民调解制度的完善——以“诉调对接”为视角

人民调解是我国民间调解的法定活动形式。进入20世纪90年代以后,由于主客观方面的原因导致其作用日益下降。"诉调对接",即人民法院与人民调解制度的有机结合,不失为完善人民调解制度,发挥其便捷、低廉、快速解纷功能的重要方法。     

国家与公民的合意——论行政诉讼和解

行政法的传统学说因强调行政行为的公权性和不可处分性,强调行政诉讼不同于民事诉讼的特性,因而在行政诉讼中排斥国家与公民的合意,中国行政诉讼实定法明文规定“行政诉讼不适用调解”,但在域外,尤其是法治发达国家,行政诉讼和解则是通行的制度,行政诉讼中是存在合意的。文章辨析了“和解”与“调解”,分析了我国行政诉讼中和解的实际状况,着力论证了在我国行政诉讼中引入和解制度的可行性、必要性及必要的限制。     

强化人民调解遏止家庭暴力

家庭暴力问题普遍存在,危害严重.在诸多反家庭暴力的措施中,人民调解是不可忽视的中坚力量.强化人民调解独特的第一道防线的作用,能积极主动、富有成效地预防和遏止家庭暴力.     

西部开发中少数民族民间文化资源的保护与开发--云南民族工艺村建设模式及思路研究

民族民间文化资源的保护、利用和开发将极大地促进西部边疆少数民族地区经济、社会、文化的进步和发展;同时,对少数民族在西部开发中的参与性发展和小康社会的全面建设都将具有现实意义。建设民族工艺村应是当前条件下实现少数民族民间文化资源保护与开发的一个有效途径。同时,民族工艺村建设可作三个层次———个体、社区、社会———和两种状态———静态的与动态的保护开发———的模式区分。建设民族工艺村过程中还有一些带有共性的问题值得注意。     

中国行政诉讼调解制度的现状与课题

对制度的设计者来说 ,建立完备的行政纠纷解决方式的体系 ,是保障行政相对人的合法权益 ,促进行政机关依法行政的必然要求。为制度的使用者考量 ,也应建立多种纠纷解决方式 ,从而落实当事人的程序选择权。面对行政诉讼调解制度出现的困境 ,中国行政诉讼制度的重构需要解决一些重要的课题 ,如在调解中怎样实现自愿与平等协商 ,如何实现调解与审判的协调 ,如何保障当事人的反悔权利以及和解契约的拘束力问题等等