Bridging the Divide: Mediation and Intractable Conflicts

About this episode

This episode discusses the challenges of mediation in deeply rooted conflicts with guest Valérie Rosoux.

Guest: Valérie Rosoux (University of Louvain (Belgium) and Max Planck Law Fellow) Today's episode explores the complexities of mediation in some of the world's most intractable conflicts. Valérie Rosoux joins Christopher Murphy to discuss how deep-rooted animosity and intergenerational mistrust make third-party brokered mediation particularly difficult in such situations. Given these complexities, what tools can mediators utilize to bring conflicting parties to the discussion table? When is the optimal time for them to intervene (to avoid acting either too prematurely or too belatedly)? And, perhaps most importantly, how can ingrained mistrust and animosity be transformed into a genuine desire for lasting peace? Link to one of Valérie's papers on the topic: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/363954458Hownottomediate_conflict

People in this episode

Host: Christopher Murphy

Guest: Valérie Rosoux

Topics covered

• mediation
• intractable conflicts
• peacebuilding
• intergenerational mistrust
• conflict resolution

Keywords

• mediation
• conflict
• peace
• trust
• negotiation
• intervention
• animosity

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: University of Louvain, Max Planck Law

More episodes of Max Planck Lawcast

• Whose Rules? The Battle for the New International Order · March 24, 2026 · 48 min
• Militant Democracy in Germany: Balancing Security and Freedom of Speech · November 12, 2025 · 44 min
• Sexual Assault Law: What Does Consent Mean? · September 11, 2025 · 31 min
• Global Gatekeepers: Online Oversight and Internet Content Moderation · June 6, 2025 · 55 min
• The Politics of Faith: Evangelicalism and Human Rights in Latin America · May 8, 2025 · 49 min
• Democratic-Liberal Norms Under Fire: Abortion Rights in the United States · March 25, 2025 · 35 min