Intramedia Mediation: The Cumulative and Complementary Effects of News Media Use

This study focuses on one often overlooked political communication-based media effect, intramedia mediation, and the indirect effects that stem from relationships that exist among various forms of media use. Data from a 2000 national Annenberg election panel survey are used to assess a series of relationships between television and newspaper public affairs use and how these forms of media consumption affect citizens' knowledge of presidential campaign endorsements. The indirect effects that stem from the relationships that exist among these two forms of media use reflect the cumulative and complementary functions of mass communication consumption across time. An analysis of intramedia mediation in coordination with the study of the direct effects of public affairs media use on this study's outcome variable produces substantially larger overall effects for both forms of news use. Thus, the study of intramedia mediation contributes to a better understanding of the full range of media influences on a given outcome variable over the course of a political campaign. Ramifications of these findings are outlined and future lines of research summarized.     

The Short‐Term Effects of Mediation on Low‐Intensity Civil Wars

International diplomacy, to the extent it is effective, should not only prevent escalation of low‐intensity conflict, but should also facilitate de‐escalation. This article focuses on the short‐term effects of managing low‐intensity civil wars through third‐party mediation. Specifically, we compare the efficacy of third party‐mediated direct (face‐to‐face) and indirect talks in low‐intensity civil wars from 1993 to 2004 using the Managing Intrastate Low‐Intensity Conflict data set. We argue that a focus on short‐term success is valid because of the relationship among mediation, short‐term success, humanitarian aid access, and peacebuilding. We also assess the roles of mediator identity, mediation strategy (behavior focus versus incompatibility focus), peace agreements, war type, per capita gross domestic product, level of democracy, and conflict duration. Our overarching finding is that direct forms of mediation in which all parties meet face to face were the most likely to yield short‐term success in the sample of civil wars that we analyzed.     

Civil Society and Peace Negotiations: Beyond the Inclusion–Exclusion Dichotomy

Civil society is generally seen as an important actor in peace processes. But when it comes to reaching an agreement during peace negotiations, much of the current debate is centered on the question of including or excluding civil society. Although most researchers argue that civil society participation makes the process more sustainable and democratic, most practitioners emphasize that enhanced civil society participation makes it more difficult to reach a peace agreement. I argue that practitioners and theorists must both move beyond this dichotomy and, instead, focus on the variety of ways in which civil society actors can be included in a given negotiation process. To this end, I present in this article a comprehensive overview of nine models of inclusion, from most to least direct involvement of civil society, supported by illustrative case studies. Analysis of these models suggests that it will be possible to broaden the participation of civil society in peace negotiations without decreasing the negotiations' effectiveness.     

完整构建我国的行政诉讼调解制度

<中华人民共和国行政诉讼法>第50条规定:"人民法院审理行政案件,不适用调解."在司法实践中,为了规避行政诉讼不适用调解的规定,法院出面由行政机关与原告"协商互让",或由被告改变原具体行政行为,原告申请撤诉获人民法院准许结案,从而导致了我国行政诉讼中的撤诉率一直居高不下.这表明,行政诉讼调解有实践需要且事实上存在.应当完整地构建我国行政诉讼调解制度,将调解结案作为法定的结案方式作出规定,赋予调解书与判决书同等的法律效力.     

CHILD PROTECTION MEDIATION: THE COOK COUNTY ILLINOIS EXPERIENCE—A JUDGE'S PERSPECTIVE

The Child Protection Mediation Program in Cook County, Illinois is the result of a collaborative effort on the part of the court, its stakeholders, and the attorneys involved in child protection cases. Child protection mediation empowers families and includes parents in many decisions impacting their children. It also helps judges to move children's cases through the legal system more rapidly and in a more efficient and humane manner. This results in children achieving more timely permanency. The program is sustained in part due to frequent outreach to, and input from, the program's consumers. These help to ensure that the program is meeting the diverse needs of the court, the families, and the professionals involved in the cases.     

TRENDS IN CHILD PROTECTION MEDIATION: RESULTS OF THE THINK TANK SURVEY AND INTERVIEWS

Several child protection conflict resolution program directors and researchers talked about how best to initiate a networking effort for their field. In September 2007, their conversations culminated in a Think Tank in Columbus, Ohio. This was a collaboration of judges, program directors, researchers, and representatives from national organizations that work in child protection. Participants felt this was a successful effort and that the meeting provided networking opportunities and many provocative discussions. In order to facilitate a meeting that would be meaningful for the Think Tank participants, input was solicited from as many constituent groups as possible. Surveys and interviews were completed in the summer of 2007, which shed light on themes that were ripe for discussion and improvement. This article details the survey and interview results and includes some brief comments from the Think Tank itself. Thoughts about future research in child protection conflict resolution are also provided.     

EMPOWERING PARENTS IN CHILD PROTECTION MEDIATION: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES

One of the greatest challenges that parents face in child protection mediation (CPM) is to voice their concerns and negotiate on a relatively equal basis with the other mediation participants. This article considers how imbalances of power, limited confidentiality protection, and the personal problems that bring parents into the child protection process can limit a parent's ability to exercise self-determination in mediation and offers guidance for mediators seeking to conduct CPM in a manner that effectively empowers parents to meaningfully and collaboratively participate in mediation.     

“大调解”机制中法院的角色定位

"大调解"纠纷解决机制在基层实际运行状况如何,法院参与构建大调解机制是否存在必要性,从实然和应然的角度对法院在"大调解"中的地位进行分析,法院的角色定位为"参与者"可能比较合适,在"大调解"机制的运行中承担指导服务和保障作用。     

无条件“调解优先”倾向应当刹车

随着民商审判中"调解热"的不断升温,无条件"调解优先"之风冲击着我国民商审判方式改革取得的成果,冲击着人们要求公开、公正、公平、透明的诉讼理念。本文对当前司法实务中出现的无条件调解优先倾向的态势和造成的负面影响进行了分析和批判,主张民商审判中调、判关系的定位,应当回归到最高人民法院提出的"能调则调,当判则判,调判结合,案结事了"的十六字指导原则上来。     

当前治安调解存在的问题及对策研究

公安机关在治安管理工作中积极运用调解的处理方法,不仅有利于妥善处理民间纠纷、化解社会矛盾,还可以提高行政效率、节约行政成本,并有助于增进社会和谐以及解决基层警力不足等问题。但在实践中,部分基层公安机关及其民警所进行的治安调解工作还存在一些问题,影响了治安调解功能的充分发挥。针对这些问题提出完善国家行政立法、将治安调解纳入考核范围、改进调解方法和创新调解形式四方面建议,以促进治安调解的顺利进行和完善。