Mediation and Other Methods to Foster Democratic Dialogue and a Chance to Reform, a Chance to Heal: Exploring the Potential of Restorative Justice

These courses are designed to facilitate the exchange of ideas and cooperative projects among academics, professionals, and students in the East and West who are pursuing the study of conflict and conflict resolution processes. The program, set in the context of Central and Eastern Europe’s emerging democracies, will focus both on mediation (introductory track) and restorative justice (advanced track), both courses exploring consensual methods for addressing and resolving conflict and promoting understanding between peoples.
 
CEU SUN participants will be joined by approximately thirty American law students and scholars to explore these subjects. All of the offerings will include multi-national perspectives and examples. This program will enable students to critically examine the challenges of the design and delivery of ADR initiatives in multiple contexts, including countries where the "rule of law" still is being established.

Introductory Track

Mediation and Other Methods to Foster Democratic Dialogue
(for students without prior course experience in mediation)
 
Through lecture, discussion, demonstration, and role-play, students will be introduced to mediation theory and skills and examine the impact of culture and context on the mediation approach adopted. Examples will focus on mediation models and scenarios from both the United States and Central and Eastern Europe. The task of translating hostile and adversarial communication into building blocks of collaborative dialogue will be explored, as well as the mediator's role in identifying, framing, and ordering the issues in dispute. The analysis will highlight persuasive techniques for moving parties from impasse to settlement. Special attention will be directed to the ethical dilemmas faced by mediators, particularly challenges to a mediator's impartiality, and the potential for abuse of discretion and power. The course also will examine a variety of strategies to foster and support democratic and constructive dialogue, particularly focusing on "high-conflict" situations involving inter-ethnic tensions. Students will study efforts in Central and Eastern Europe to promote meaningful democratic dialogue in times of national and international crisis. Participants should come prepared for a highly interactive learning experience.

Advanced Track

A Chance to Reform, A Chance to Heal: Exploring the Potential of Restorative Justice
(for students with theory and practice background in mediation or with a special interest in restorative justice)
 
Restorative justice offers a refreshingly different framework for thinking about wrongdoing. It moves beyond the confines of traditional justice systems to embrace social justice principles. Restorative justice acknowledges the damaged relationships that result from any wrongdoing and focuses on healing for all those involved. This course will offer students an opportunity to study the four leading restorative justice practices and explore the possibilities restorative justice offers to move beyond the limitations of retributive justice toward embracing the importance of forgiveness, reconciliation, and social healing. The first week of the course will concentrate on the potential for restorative justice practices to encourage the reform of judicial systems. The second week of the course will examine the tremendous opportunities restorative justice practices and principles offer to address the individual and collective pain associated with profound ethnic conflict. Through case study and dialogue exercises, students will be invited to draw on their own experiences of conflict as they explore the dynamics of cultural conflict. The class will be highly experiential with the practice of the talking circle serving as a core modality for class discussion. In a talking circle participants speak only when holding the talking piece. The practice encourages participants to listen deeply and respectfully to each other and reminds them that each has a valued contribution to offer.
 
Please note that participation in the advanced track is on a fee-paying basis, however, a limited number of scholarships are available for participants from countries of emerging democracies.

Applicants have the option to apply to

• Introductory Track: for students without prior course experience in mediation, or
• Advanced Track: for students with theory and practice background in mediation or with a special interest in restorative justice

Please clearly indicate in your application

• if your educational background and/or professional experience have included any dispute resolution work, training, or other experience;
• which Track you are applying for.