<p>The objective of this study was to examine and review the main features and works of the arbitration and conciliation working group of UNCITRAL while demonstrating their impact on international trade.</p>

This thesis examines the use of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) for local government planning and development disputes in New South Wales. Set within broader theoretical concerns around key concepts, this research comprehensively documents, for the first time, how the ADR process of mediation was introduced to NSW councils and then used by their staff and independent ADR practitioners for disputes over development applications and the formation of local planning policies. The thesis also provides a systematic overview of the use of mediation and conciliation for development appeals brought before the Land and Environment Court of NSW (LEC). In the 1980s there was considerable interest in ADR in Australia. Mediation was in use for community, family and business disputes and by the early 1990s was being suggested for environmental, planning and development matters. Its use was encouraged by government agencies keen to see a reduction in the costs of often delayed council decisions on development applications. There was also a desire by councils to find a way to reduce the community disharmony that often occurred over large or contentious applications, or when changes to planning policies were proposed. Mediation held great promise in these early years but as this research shows, its take-up has been modest and its use variable. A detailed analysis of the encouragement to use ADR for planning and development disputes before councils and the LEC, together with an examination of policy and survey evidence, uncovers a significant gap between the promotional rhetoric and actual practice. From extensive in-depth interviews with council staff and ADR practitioners and through personal knowledge, it can be seen that the initial enthusiasm for ADR has not continued, with council staff now more commonly seeking to directly negotiate solutions to development disputes. The thesis concludes by considering the likely future for ADR in local government planning and development disputes.

ivThe rapid increase of land development, the increase in population and theexploitation of natural resources have caused great concern to mostgovernments in the world today. Land and land tenure systems are the keyelements and the key forces which shape the society. However, theconstraints of the land tenure system and the effects of rapid economicdevelopment are visible throughout the world today, especially in lessdeveloped countries. Therefore land problems often break out as disputes. Inthis context, this thesis concentrates on customary land tenure and thecustomary land problems in Fiji.The main purpose of this thesis is to propose an alternative centre for theadministration and management of customary disputes, which will utiliseland information and geographical information to its maximum capabilities.It is anticipated that this model would assist customary landowners, landadministrators and land managers to resolve customary land disputes. TheFiji customary land tenure system is examined, in particular, landownership,land boundaries and land administration. These three topics are discussedindividually and then discussed as a basis of land disputes. It is in these threeareas that a procedure is developed into a system that may help in customaryland dispute resolution.This thesis aims to assist all other countries with customary land tenureproblems, especially those countries of the South Pacific that share the sameprinciples and the same flexibility.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2007. / The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file. Title from title screen of research.pdf file (viewed on February 14, 2008) Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.A.)--City University of Hong Kong, 2007. / "Master of Arts in arbitration and dispute resolution, LW 6409A dissertation." Title from PDF t.p. (viewed on Apr. 1, 2008) Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.A.)--City University of Hong Kong, 2007. / "Master of Arts in arbitration and dispute resolution, LW6409 dissertation." Title from PDF t.p. (viewed on Apr. 1, 2008) Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (J.C.L.)--Catholic University of America, 1994. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 84-86).

Thesis (M.A.) - Carleton University, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 121-128). Also available in electronic format on the Internet.

Thesis (M.A.) - Carleton University, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 102-108). Also available in electronic format on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of California, San Diego, 1997. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.