I will admit that I am not entirely comfortable with the idea of the mediator as a neutral. I prefer to think of the mediator as an advocate for each side in turn. Sometimes I feel that my role is to coach each side into negotiating the best deal they can get. Sometimes I try to persuade each side of the strengths of the other side’s position. And sometimes I act as the advocate for agreement as opposed to the drawbacks of continued conflict. In none of these roles do I feel strictly neutral. I also think parties need not choose a mediator who is strictly neutral in the sense of having no connections to either party, or in terms […]
