CIIM Volume 3
This is the third volume in the widely acclaimed series, "Contemporary Issues in Mediation", and was officially launched on 18 September 2018 at Level Up.
CIIM Volume 3 is a collection of the best entries of the 3rd Singapore International Mediation Institute Annual Mediation Essay Competition.
We are also proud to share that CIIM 3 features the first international essay in the series that was selected for publication, a submission from Brazil. In addition, the essays in this volume fall neatly into three categories: Mediation Landscape; Mediation and Social Justice; Mediation skills. The section on Mediation and Social Justice contains the winning piece by Lidia Syahindah Binti Mohd Maliki. The essay provides an excellent overview of the concept of restorative justice and her treatment of the topic is a welcome introduction to the subject.
Another remarkable piece in this section is by Roberto Baumgarten Kuster, from Brazil and the aforementioned first international entry being published. His essay tackles the complex topic of the use of peace mediation under the United Nations.
The first runner up entry by Daniel Fielding can be found in the Mediation Landscape section. Daniel discusses how mediation can strengthen the effectiveness of international commercial arbitration, taking a deep look at the various protocols that straddle the worlds of mediation and arbitration. This is particularly relevant as mediation-related activities and initiatives are exploding in popularity and are often driven by the incumbent arbitration organisations of each jurisdiction.
The final section has a unique selection of essays relating to Mediation skills. There are essays dealing with communication issues such as priming and cognitive biases by Andy Yeo and Joyce Magdalena respectively. On a related note, there are also essays on self-mastery, and explore the pressure mediators face to pursue settlement (Leonard Chua), the importance of mindfulness (Timothy Tan) and how to maintain a suitable power balance between parties (Lua Chang Jie).
"This remarkable set of essays demonstrates why Singapore is such a world leader in international dispute resolution. Chapters on the application of mediation processes to international conflicts, victim-offender criminal law and restorative justice, the need for international conventions for enforcement and illustrations of the most sophisticated of new skills areas (cognitive bias, mindfulness) all demonstrate that the best quality education, teaching, and research is coming from the future mediators and lawyers of Singapore, with lessons to be learned by all of us in the international mediation community. Bravo!”
Professor Carrie Menkel-Meadow
Distinguished Professor of Law and Political Science,
University of California, Irvine
Chettle Chair in Dispute Resolution,
Law and Civil Procedure, Emerita, Georgetown University Law Center
“These essays covering different aspects of mediation offer fresh ideas that will simulate mediation practitioners in their application. I commend the opportunity given to students to express their views on mediation and their research efforts. Though recognising that some theoretical concepts may not or are difficult to apply in reality, academic research still provides the foundation for practice"