Transformative mediation: basic concepts and premises

The paper provides an overview of the main theoretical assumptions of transformative mediation, examines the key concepts of this method, discusses in general the specifics of transformative approach compared with other mediation schools, of its structure, principles, targets and tools of communication techniques. We analyzed how the transformative model overrides the content of the concept of mediation, differently interpreting the purpose of the process and setting new boundaries of mediation as a phenomenon. This analysis allows for criticism of essentialist views on mediation as a process with stable pre-defined purposes and principles, the effectiveness of which can be adequately assessed using a single set of criteria. Transformative approach claims to be the one of the most influential schools in the mediation and allows the dispute participants a greater freedom in determining the substantive aspects of the procedure, as well as on the level of the process organization, determining the number of participants and the format of the mediation.

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