Definition of Mediation in Germany | Mediation Training Insights – International Mediation Campus

In different countries there is a different way of practising mediation. The understanding and practice of mediation is often influenced by the common understanding of the definition of mediation in the country and, on the other hand, the practice of mediation e.g. the embedding in the existing legal system influences its definition.

In this article, we show how mediation is commonly understood and practised in Germany by looking at three instances. For this purpose, the mediation law, the definition of the German Mediation Association and a research study among German mediators are considered.

The German Federal Association of Mediation- Bundesverband Mediation

If one compares the legal description of mediation with the definition of the Bundesverband Mediation (Federal Association of Mediation), it is noticeable that further criteria are mentioned here. Mediation is a procedure for the extrajudicial, constructive handling of conflicts.

Mediation is:

• confidential
• structured
• voluntarily
• open-ended.

Mediators are:

• non-partial
• independent
• qualified

Conflicting parties are:

• on one’s own responsibility
• interested in constructive conflict management
• develop their own solutions.

German social science study among mediators

In an investigation into the “elements of mediation”, Tröndel [1]uses a qualitative social science study to take a range of existing German literature on mediation as a basis and to investigate which elements the description of mediation includes in the representation of these texts.

From the elements obtained, he creates categories. All German-language texts on mediation reach consensus with regard to the following elements:

• Confidentiality of the mediator and the parties to the conflict
• Self-responsibility or self-determination of the conflict parties
• The aim of mediation is to reach an amicable solution.
• The aim is to improve the relationship between the parties to the conflict
• The aim is to create a win-win situation
• Mediator structures the conflict
• Mediator supports self-clarification
• Mediator adopts an appreciative attitude
• Mediator manages emotions
• Mediation has a future focus.

If one superimposes these three definitions or descriptions of mediation, the following picture about the common understanding of Mediation in Germany emerges: Mediation is a structured, future-oriented procedure moderated by a neutral/all-party third party for out-of-court conflict resolution. Governed by the principles: of neutrality, self-determination, voluntariness, confidentiality, and it ultimately has the goal of achieving an amicable resolution of the conflict.

[1] Tröndle, Jakob (2015): Die Elemente der Mediation. Die Praxiselemente der Mediation als gegenstandsnahe Basis für interdisziplinäre Mediationsforschung. In: Konfliktdynamik 4 (3): S. 210-218.

Excerpt from:

Hartmann-Piraudeau, Andrea: Mediators in the Leading Role – Understanding and Actively Managing Mediation. Springer 2021