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。     

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.     

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     

劳动争议处理制度的新变化——以《劳动争议调解仲裁法》为依据

劳动争议处理制度是劳动法确立的一项重要程序制度,是构建和谐劳动关系的法律机制之一。但我国过去的劳动争议处理剁度存在不少缺陷,新颁布的《劳动争议调解仲裁法》则基本立足于我国实际,在一些制度设计上取得了重大突破,主要表现为：立法价值取向更加务实;劳动争议调解主体多元化;争议处理时限缩短,提高了争议处理效率;仲裁组织的建拘趋于合理化;对劳动争议仲裁时效进行了重欠完善;确立了部分劳动争议案件的仲裁终局制;确立了私法对劳动争议仲裁的有限监督等,从而使劳动争议处理制度产生了新的变化。