Cross-Cultural Mediation

Cross-Cultural Mediation

Introduction

This paper discusses a cross-cultural conflict scenario in which a mediator must apply the appropriate skills to resolve the conflict. In order to resolve these types of conflicts mediators must apply a non-bias approach to the conflict because the mediator must perceive and identify the cultural differences in order to appropriately resolve the conflict. The mediator must facilitate communication, and they must invoke trust with the disputants for successful cross-cultural conflict resolution.

The conflict discussed in this paper revolves around a custody dispute in which the disputing parties are a divorcing couple who are having conflict over the cultural difference in which each parent would like their daughter raised. The father is of Arabic descent that was raised with Islamic values and significantly embraces his culture in every facet of his life. According to Schencker (2011)“Traditionally, Muslim dads head up their households and are responsible for supporting their families and helping to teach their children about life and Islam as they grow older.”

The mother was born in the United States and is not committed to any one religion. Her morals and values are firmly based on the United States judicial system. She would consider herself a free spirit who enjoys the cultural freedom found in American culture. She wants her daughter to enjoy new experiences that the American culture provides without being tied down to strict inflexible cultural beliefs. These cultural differences are creating significant conflict in the child custody proceedings. Both parents would rather try to resolve this conflict through mediation rather than litigation.

The parties involved in this conflict not...

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