MEDIATING PEACEBUILDING IN PROTRACTED CONFLICTS: An interactive design framework

This chapter describes the interactive design process in more detail, provides an overview of the framework, a summary of the practice of interactive design, and outlines of the major responsibilities, competencies, and skills of the mediator within the interactive design approach. It discusses some of the challenges and limitations of using the interactive design framework in protracted conflicts. The interactive design approach offers the possibility of building alliances and developing the collaboration that can become the backbone of multiparty peacebuilding efforts in protracted conflicts. A central role of the facilitative mediator is to create and sustain an inclusive and participatory climate during the dialogue sessions. Interactive design sessions usually result in both improved relations among the participants and a set of products that can be implemented after the interactive sessions. Finally, in addition to facilitating the interactive design sessions, the mediator is usually involved in the follow-up discussion to help the parties interpret and implement the outcomes.