TY - CHAP

T1 - Hybrid peace mediation in the age of pandemics

AU - Hagemann, Anine

AU - Bramsen, Isabel

PY - 2023

Y1 - 2023

N2 - For international diplomacy, the dawn of the covid-19 pandemic in 2020 brought on an acceleration of the transition to virtual spaces for cooperation.] Studying the virtualization of the fragile process of peace mediation we describe the new conditions of hybrid peace mediation and show both advantages and challenges in comparison to traditional diplomatic face to face meetings. We show how virtual meetings have advantages, such as potentially broadening accessibility, equalizing the power dynamics in interaction and allowing for more frequent meetings. Disadvantages include disrupting the flow of interaction and jeopardizing confidentiality. Most importantly, virtual meetings entail the loss of an absolutely key element of peace diplomacy; all the sensibilities which come with being physically present in a room together, and which serves to create the micro process of diplomatic approachment, which is the essential in creating trust, understanding and a sense of togetherness. When it is lost, it becomes apparent just how crucial this is. We predict that a world of complemetarity of virtual and physical meetings is here to stay and we show how there is complementarity in timing, in maintaining the momentum of a process and in enhancing collaboration. We highlight emerging strategies of virtual mediation, including increased bilateral consultations, preparation of meetings, as wells as the use of multiple mediators and multiple channels of communication simultaneously.

AB - For international diplomacy, the dawn of the covid-19 pandemic in 2020 brought on an acceleration of the transition to virtual spaces for cooperation.] Studying the virtualization of the fragile process of peace mediation we describe the new conditions of hybrid peace mediation and show both advantages and challenges in comparison to traditional diplomatic face to face meetings. We show how virtual meetings have advantages, such as potentially broadening accessibility, equalizing the power dynamics in interaction and allowing for more frequent meetings. Disadvantages include disrupting the flow of interaction and jeopardizing confidentiality. Most importantly, virtual meetings entail the loss of an absolutely key element of peace diplomacy; all the sensibilities which come with being physically present in a room together, and which serves to create the micro process of diplomatic approachment, which is the essential in creating trust, understanding and a sense of togetherness. When it is lost, it becomes apparent just how crucial this is. We predict that a world of complemetarity of virtual and physical meetings is here to stay and we show how there is complementarity in timing, in maintaining the momentum of a process and in enhancing collaboration. We highlight emerging strategies of virtual mediation, including increased bilateral consultations, preparation of meetings, as wells as the use of multiple mediators and multiple channels of communication simultaneously.

UR - https://www.routledge.com/The-Routledge-Handbook-of-Intercultural-Mediation/Busch/p/book/9781032129747

U2 - 10.4324/9781003227441-13

DO - 10.4324/9781003227441-13

M3 - Book chapter

BT - The Routledge Handbook of Intercultural Mediation

A2 - Busch, Dominic

PB - Routledge

CY - New York

ER -