This book is a vivid reader on the experiences of mediation throughout history and in many different regional, cultural, and legal contexts. For experts in the field of mediation and legal anthropology, it provides a series of fascinating case studies not previously reported on. For those not familiar with the field, it provides a window on an alternative possibility for peacemaking in political conflicts. Mediation in Political Conflicts is held together by the editor"s introduction, which defines political mediation, the research methodologies employed, the relationship of mediation to participatory democracy, and the growth of mediation in the past 20 years. The chapters provide the anatomy of successful and unsuccessful mediations in contexts as widely diverse as the 30 Years War (1618-1648), which was ended following the intercession of the future Pope: Alexander VII. The book also examines the role of the Catholic Church in other mediations - in the Basque conflict, in Burundi, and in Chiapas - and looks at conflicts in Ethiopia, Northern Ireland, Central America, and Congo. (Series: Onati International Series in Law and Society)