“What if a mediator had been here?” is the central question that Linda poses to her audience during the Centrum voor Conflicthantering (CvC) Mediation Conflict Tour©, an initiative bringing ordinary citizens to know more about the world and the role that mediation can play even in our daily lives. “We started organizing this Tour to make people realize what mediation can do for them in everyday life and that mediations goes beyond family and divorce.” Her desire to overcome prejudices by showing the strengths of mediation drove Linda to design theTour across various cities both in the Netherlands and abroad, visiting places where conflict took place and demonstrating to the audience how such dispute could have been resolved more effectively if a mediator had been involved. The CvC Mediation Conflict Tour© is just one of the few ground-breaking initiatives arisen by the visionary mind of Linda, whose main commitment is to spread the seed of mediation at every level of our society in a double folded way: by raising awareness in the public on the importance of mediation and by accurately training aspirant mediators according the highest possible standards.

Linda’s Curriculum: A Pioneering Mind

 Linda’s interest in mediation comes from afar. While she graduated in both Anthropology and Environmental Management, her career-focused immediately on the latter specialization. She worked for many years traveling overseas for an engineering company engaging in multi-stakeholder processes. Due to family reasons, she finally decided to settle in the Netherlands and started to get involved in meditation-like activities in her own country. “I realized that what I was doing with my firm overseas, namely multi-stakeholder processes and community involvement was quite unknown in The Netherlands,” she admits.

In the mid-90s, a resounding case in the Netherlands concerning a litigation process started by a community whose lands had been flooded by an overflowing river due to climate change ignited a spark in Linda’s mind. She had always kept environmental issues at her heart and by reading a book on managing environmental disputes she finally realized that mediation represented the right path for her. “At that time, mediation was pretty new in The Netherlands,” she says, realizing that even her former colleagues at the engineering company were quite skeptical on this turn.

Over the years, Linda made a name for herself in the mediation field, becoming one of the most renown figures in the Netherlands and obtaining the position of Director of the Centre for Conflict Resolution, a top-3 Dutch company specialized in training on mediation, negotiation, and coaching. In this role, she pioneered initiatives such as the Dutch Business Mediation Competition, the Mediation Academic Pitch and the Dutch Mediation Festival, among others.

Mediator in Action: Between Environment, Culture, and Business 

In her more than 20 years in the field, Linda developed wide expertise in various areas of mediation. Since the very beginning of her career, she has been deeply involved in environmental cases, mediating some of the major disputes in the Netherlands and abroad. Particularly, her curriculum counts numerous examples of water diplomacy, an area that stands out as increasingly important considering the current impact of climate change in many parts of the globe.

“Water is a life necessity, it may represent a source of power and therefore of conflict, but people should understand that it can be a source of cooperation instead” she states confidently, “if you look at The Netherlands, the Water Authorities and the dikes, you have a clear example of how people can cooperate instead of having a conflict.” 

Linda confesses to be incredibly satisfied when she manages to join her major passion for intercultural mediation, stemming from her anthropological studies, with environmental and water disputes, especially involving multi-stakeholder processes. She is amazed by how these two areas entwine: “In many cultures, water has a cultural meaning and depth; it is seen as a source of life and often a source of spirituality, and you can use these connotations to create bridges among parties in conflict.” Finally, as mentioned above, Linda is a pioneering practitioner and trainer on business mediation, which was scarcely considered in the Netherlands.  

“Being a Mediator Means also Starting a Business”

To be a mediator is no easy job. First and foremost, bravery and desire to get involved are fundamental requirements: “A mediator should go where the heat is,” to quote Kenneth Cloke, one of the most prominent figures of our times in the world of mediation. Secondly, according to Linda “aspirant mediators should understand that becoming a professional mediator means starting a business.” In other words, being an expert in the field is not enough, but managerial and business skills are required to be successful in this ambition.

It is precisely for this reason that as a Director of the Centre for Conflict Resolution, Linda put great emphasis on quality-control mechanisms for mediators in the Netherlands and elsewhere, in order to prepare future mediators. Through a long procedure of training, supervised practice, peer mentoring and accreditation mechanisms, future mediators are formed at best even from the perspective of facing business challenges. “To be a mediator you also need to be an entrepreneur, to ‘sell’ your services,” she acknowledges.

Balancing Supply and Demand 

What is remarkable about Linda’s commitment to mediation is her desire to “spread the seed” contributing to create more peaceful societies by both training high-quality mediators and – on the other hand – raising awareness in the public on the importance of mediation in our daily lives. She is pushed by the fact that the supply of mediators outmatches the demand, and too often the quality of mediation does not live up to the standards required by such critical activity. On the other hand, initiatives such as the Mediation Conflict Tour or the establishment of the first Professorat in Mediation in the Netherlands aim at promoting and making mediation more developed on the demand side.

Having this question at her heart, Linda joined MBBI with the aim of contributing to bringing mediation where this is still unknown or scarcely considered. The reason why Linda retains mediation so unique? The capacity to build trust. “The main difference between mediation and other processes of resolving disputes is trust-building. By saying yes to mediation and to a mediator, the parties of a conflict get already closer in their relationship and ignite a little spark to trust each other.” 

Written by Matteo Piovacari: MBBI Writer

George Zeidan is the community leader of the Right to Movement, which is trying to bring awareness of the Palestinian inability to move freely within the country, the limitations imposed on Palestinians such as the separation wall, the settlements, checkpoints, and others. In addition, the fact that Palestinian women do not have the ability to move freely and do what they like to do whether, dancing, singing or running. Through various physical activities such as running, we want to encourage youth and women to explore Palestine and challenge those limitations by defying the existing structure and help raise awareness regarding these issues. Through this movement, a proper atmosphere is created for the Palestinian people particularly for women to feel welcome and be able to practice running. In the Palestinian community women usually, don’t have space to join any kind of running practice in public and this movement helps provide this space.

The movement has been organizing free training in three Palestinian cities to encourage people to exercise and to train for the Palestine marathon that the movement has established. Running is a worldwide connection and we believe it will bring more awareness worldwide about restrictions on Palestinian movement.

Their running focuses on trails along the restriction zones in order to raise awareness of local and international communities about their inability to enjoy a normal life. The Movement’s short term objective is to keep holding training three times a week in these three areas and encourage more people to join. In the long run, they hope to create more running communities that train together on a weekly basis to promote the Palestinian right to movement. 

The Interview

Elahe Amani – How did you get into the idea of the Right to Movement? What inspired you?

George Zeidan – I went to school in North Carolina and was faced with a situation where people had many stereotypes about my background. I took the chance to approach people in classes and churches and talk about the reality of being a Palestinian. Gradually I started seeing the difference that these talks were making in the small community of Murfreesboro. When I got back home to Palestine, I joined two friends from Denmark to start the Right to Movement Palestine campaign. I believe in scaling these attempts to change these stereotypes and the right to movement is the best platform to do so. We tackle the misconceptions through sports and movement.

EA – In what ways you think the Right to Movement brings change, to the Israel -Palestinian conflict? Serve justice for Palestinians?

GZ – We are raising awareness. We are bringing people who would never come here to come, run, and learn about injustice. We are changing the public sphere. On the other hand, we are strengthening the Palestinian identity among the members, increasing their awareness of cultural, political and historical issues.

EA – The Israel-Palestine conflict always being discussed in a binary, either/or context. As a mediator, I am interested to explore in what ways we can build bridges between people and taking steps to make life better for Palestinians. Perhaps we cannot end the conflict and serve justice for millions of Palestinians but there are ways that we can manage the conflict and make this intractable conflict less intense. Who can play a role in making this conflict less, what is the role of the EU? The US?

GZ – The US role is the most important. This conflict is no longer bipartisan in the US. Democrats have been so outspoken on Israel’s brutal occupation and demanding justice and freedom for Palestinians. The US’s ultimate support to Israel prohibits any future negotiations and mediation. It starts with the US support to Israel and it also ends with the US support to Israel. Israeli society has lost its direction and interest for peace. They do not know what happens on the other side of the wall, they should understand how harmful is the occupation.

EA – In a world that extremism in politics and religion are on the rise, Israeli-Palestinian conflict seems more intractable than ever. What are your hopes? Can you imagine a future that people regardless of their religion, from North to South of the region (what is now Israel & Palestine) live peacefully?

GZ – I have hope. I think most of us Palestinians and Israelis want to live in peace next to each other. Extremism exists everywhere, but it has a strong growth potential specifically when diplomatic attempts lead is leading nowhere. I think we can co-exist in one country or live in two different countries. The most important thing is the intention.

EA – I recall clearly that growing up in Tehran, Mahmoud Darwish’s poetry was my gateway to know about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict when I was in high school. What role art, literature, sport and civil society can play?

GZ – I believe that sports and literature play a central role in empowering societies and crafting strong identities. We have many inspiring models of Palestinian artists and athletes who took our feelings and flags to global stages. Engaging in various activities empower humans and bring a positive difference to society.

“To bring people together with good will”  is the simple framework in which Maxim Schrogin conducts his work as a community organizer and mediator in Berkeley, California. 

After studying architecture at UC Berkeley, Maxim spent the majority of his career working in architectural design, construction management, and real estate. Today, he channels lessons from these ventures, along with his natural enthusiasm for interacting with people, to help forge common ground among diverse individuals and community groups. Maxim has served as a board member of the Jewish Community Center and as Chairman for Berkeley Organized Congregations for Action. He is currently Chair of the Peace Committee for Berkeley Rotary and a member of MBBI.

Career Lessons

After earning his Master of Architecture in 1974, Maxim held numerous roles in architectural design and construction management where he learned how to run a successful business. With fifteen years under his belt, he started his own companies as a general contractor in design-build and as a residential real estate investor and syndicator, which required him to spend a significant amount of time traveling to other states. “The business world is mostly about relating to people; I found that the more straightforward and open I was with the people I worked with, the better my results were,” Maxim commented.

Additionally, regarding his travels, he said, “I have always been a person who draws energy from human connection, and I enjoyed having the opportunity to work with and learn from people whose cultural norms and world views differ from my own.” Although unplanned, these personal exchanges informed Maxim’s understanding of conflict dynamics throughout the United States as well as his approaches to community organizing and mediation in Berkeley.

Mediation and Community Organizing 

After volunteering as an organizer with a faith-based community group in the Bay Area, Maxim found his way to Berkeley Rotary. Their core mission of “service above self,” as well as the methods in which members were conducting their work as “people of action,” resonated with him and moved him to take on the responsibility of becoming Chair of the Peace Committee. Through this participation, Maxim was connected to MBBI by a fellow Californian and long-time MBBI member, Steve Goldsmith. “Eventually, I knew I wanted to learn more about mediation, so I took some courses and fell in love with the method,” Maxim said. 

There are many organizations today that are trying to promote peacebuilding. “It is an uphill battle, and I am a little cynical about using the word ‘peace.’ However, my idea of peace is the way MBBI does it.” He asserts that community organizing and mediation go hand-in-hand, since “both allow for communication across difference,” which is productive in itself. To this end, Maxim has recently made it his prerogative to help the Rotary become known as “the place you go in order to make peace.”

Conflict Can Be Productive

While there is a slew of world conflicts that demand serious attention, Maxim thinks that, as a citizen of the United States, it is important to “look at ourselves and work to restore democracy.” He is particularly interested in helping mediate concrete discussions and problem-solving for local issues. “Conflict can be productive as long as it is handled in a productive way,” he said in closing. Conflict transformation is an important way forward towards a more peaceful world. 

Article by Juliana Heffern, MBBI Writer

Christiana Lang has deliberately switched between research, policy, and programming positions throughout her career. She has worked with organizations from the grassroots level to INGOs, and IGOs like the UN, and to the legislative level in the US federal government. Her focus has been using a systems-thinking perspective to understand the connections between different sectors. These experiences were invaluable in fostering her understanding of how policies are made, how programs are implemented, and the political nuances that often accompany them.

Global Peace Engagement

Christiana joined the Peace Corps early in her career, where she served for two and a half years in Prachinburi, Thailand. During this time in Thailand, she lived at the village level, with the heart of the program focusing on community development and public health, “It was a special place to be – my Thai counterpart Pi Yai and the community became my family!” Her time with Peace Corps impacted her and her life deeply, which led her to strive for new global opportunities. After completing her mission with the Peace Corps, she moved back to the USA and worked for United Way in youth development and service-learning for various associated nonprofits. In 2016, she joined the government working on public health, focusing on women’s health at the Health Resources and Services Administration. She enjoyed her time working as a Public Health Analyst, but due to the tumultuous political climate at home, she made the decision to search for other opportunities abroad focused on global conflict resolution.

Christiana was selected as a Rotary Peace Fellow through the Rotary International initiative and moved to Sweden to start a Master of Social Science in Peace and Conflict Studies, International/Global Studies at Uppsala University in 2017. She applied because she fell in love with the opportunity to do peacebuilding work and because she recognized the need for sound research methodology, especially in a climate and reality where truth is endangered. Uppsala University was the obvious choice for Christiana as it is the “Best in the world in scientific methods and understanding research processes related to peace and conflict,” she said.

Two major projects materialized from her time as a Rotary Peace Fellow. The first project was in partnership with MBBI, writing a research brief to inform a high-level workshop at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy on how to advance women in track one mediation. The 40-page brief laid out and assessed “What competencies and what qualifications are demanded for mediation training programs. And also for a person to join a mediation company, organization, corporation, collective, what they need to have,” Christiana explained. Although the UN has a mediation support unit, due to the limited number of women currently included in track one diplomacy it was deemed necessary and beneficial to address the issue and give examples to the UN of the competencies and requirements other organizations use when mediating. “In track one, 3% – 8% of women are included, the rest are men who know the context, have some experience, or perhaps even just know a connection. And by bringing competencies to that process, it would make it more equitable so more qualified women could be tapped,” she stated.

Researching and Mapping

In addition to the project with MBBI, Christiana’s second project at Uppsala was when she worked as a commissioned researcher for the Department of Peace and Conflict Research, mapping women’s mediation networks from around the globe. The project was organized by the Folke Bernadotte Academy (FBA), the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO), and Uppsala University. While in that role, she was tasked with interviewing each of the coordinators for every ‘women in mediation’ network in the world according to the parameters and methodology set out defining what a women mediation network was.

“This was one of the most incredible consultancies I have done so far and it is still in progress! The project looks at what constitutes a women’s mediator network, where they are located, examines how they operate and assesses their needs. The project found that some networks were created to support the potential outburst of a conflict or in response to one that had already occurred.”

The mediator network mapping project description and initial output can be read here.  The project tied in with work she had done on conflict resolution during her studies as part of a sub-project on the prevention of sexual violence in armed conflict headed by Dr. Angela Muvumba Sellström and Dr. Louise Olsson. Christiana admires how in Sweden, women in mediation play an integral role in Sweden’s feminist foreign policy.

Christiana recently moved back to Washington D.C., USA, where she works part-time as a research consultant to the Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice at the University of San Diego on the global Women PeaceMakers Program. She is now searching for opportunities related to women, peace, security, and peacebuilding within the US. She says that due to the current societal and political climate in the USA, she “Needs to be in the US right now… to help create more peace here.”

Article by Kylea Shropshire, MBBI Writer