The field of mediation tend to shift as practitioners and theorists make new recommendations concerning how the mediation practice should be conducted. The United Nations play a crucial role in this, its work involves providing training and guidance for new mediators through various arms of their system. This thesis is analyzing the 2010 publication A Manual for UN Mediators: Advice from UN Representatives and Envoys to identify which skills and strategies they are recommending, through Braun and Clarke’s (2006) six step approach to thematic analysis, connecting to the social constructionist paradigm. According to social constructionism, all mediation practices are based on ideological or value premises. Therefore, the identified recommendations are analyzed and discussed at the level of underlying ideologies. In particular, through the lenses of a problem-solving and transformative approach to mediation. Resultingly, a total of 12 themes relating to recommended mediation strategies and skills are identified, with both approaches to mediation being identified in the themes relating to the strategies and discussed within this regard.

There is a divide between the fields of Conflict Resolution (CR) and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) that impacts on the transfer of knowledge and skills. This is the central hypothesis investigated and confirmed through analysis of the literatures of the two fields, the responses to a questionnaire to practitioners, and autoethnographic interrogation. A generational analysis of authors is combined with the results of a (N=28) questionnaire with practitioners from both fields. This delineates the divide in the theory and literature as well as how those operating in each field identify, conceptualise mediation and what they read. The autoethnography explores the fundamental impact of on conflict role definitions generally and the mediator specifically. It then looks at the impact of crossing the ADR/CR divide on mediation practice, highlighting the necessity for practitioners of a ‘both and’ approach to skills/ knowledge and attitude/qualities. This leads to the consideration of a framework for mediator competence across the ADR/CR divide. The interaction of the mediators’ normative project and the ability of parties to self-determine is explored practically and ethically. This highlights a range of issues with expectations mediation and mediators and foregrounds the impact on the mediator of the mediator role. It ends with a call for further research using innovative methodologies, such as autoethnography, that illuminate mediation as a relational process.