Mediation of Multiparty-Conflicts – Plurilogue to Address Complexity – The Project MARGov

Multi-party mediation is transversal to almost all areas of mediation because it focuses specifically on the resolution of complex conflicts aiming at the involvement of all potentially interested parties. Furthermore, it is a means of excellence to involve all positions and interests at stake, as it seeks not only the integration of different perspectives and knowledge but also the resolution of conflicts in a phased and flexible approach. At the same time, multi-party mediation allows to perceive the existence of latent conflicts that, with adequate methodologies, can be overcome, clearing the way for joint solutions. Given the diversity of situations that can be addressed using this process (whether from family, commercial, labor, school, or environmental mediation), it is important to clarify that although there are common structuring elements, methodologies should be flexible and adapted to each case. Particularities of each case should be considered during the process design and or embraced in its course. Focusing on consensus building, multiparty mediation is thus capable of dealing with situations of imbalance of powers, insecurity in sharing opinions and perspectives, and lack of articulation, promoting safe Plurilogue spaces. Hence, multi-party mediation emerges as a conflict resolution and prevention process within a broader context of many "traditional" fields of mediation. For this paper, we have chosen an illustrative case study from the field of environmental/ administrative mediation, one of our emblematic projects – MARGov - Collaborative Governance of Marine Protected Areas. This project focussed on the Marine Park Professor Luiz Saldanha in Sesimbra, created by a top-down administrative process. Weak governance and absence of local stakeholders’ participation generated conflicts over time. The Project MARGov proposed to develop a model of collaborative governance via a complex multi-party mediation process.      «

Multi-party mediation is transversal to almost all areas of mediation because it focuses specifically on the resolution of complex conflicts aiming at the involvement of all potentially interested parties. Furthermore, it is a means of excellence to involve all positions and interests at stake, as it seeks not only the integration of different perspectives and knowledge but also the resolution of conflicts in a phased and flexible approach. At the same time, multi-party mediation allows to perce...     »