How to Resolve Conflict: A Practical Mediation Manual is a concise and accessible handbook that explores
the background, processes, and practical application of
conflict resolution strategies. The author, preferring the
term “conflict transformation,” lays out several models
for resolving conflict, discusses how a mediator might
prepare and manage various phases of conflict resolution, and, finally, provides constructive contexts within
which these processes might be applied. Notably, this
manual also provides practical tools for readers to use in
mediation, such as sample memorandum agreements,
and exercises to foster active listening skills. Gilman’s
intends this manual for readers from a wide range of
conflict resolution interests and practice. Outside of a
thoughtful overview on restorative justice applicable to
international communities (and despite a misspelling of
the word/language Afrikaans), the book’s discussion
on international mediation does skim the surface of
this topic, compared to its overview of family, domestic, and business mediation. The most appropriate
audience for this book is likely to be students of conflict
management in a local context, and/or individuals new
to mediation and broadly interested in the field.
The text’s most valuable contributions are the prac-
tical application and tools presented in the process
chapters, as well as the role-play scenarios and case
studies presented in the concluding chapter. Gilman
says one of his primary intentions in writing this book
was to assist in preparing mediation students for certi-
fication. By doing is, he provides a service to the field by
presenting engaging and easy-to-understand training
for future mediators. Through his broad experience as
a volunteer mediator, Gilman is able to include com-
mentary throughout the manual on useful techniques
for conflict resolution. One intriguing contribution is
the suggestion to use employee mentors for conflict
resolution within the workplace. Creative problem
solving approaches such as this are usefully scattered
throughout the handbook.
One absence in the manual occurs in the first portion
of the book: the theory section. While Gilman offers
several helpful models of conflict transformation as
a basis for the remainder of the book, these chapters lack substantive theoretical foundation. The field
of both domestic and international conflict management has a robust history of theoretical underpinning,
and many best-practice models used by mediators
today are based upon these theories. Readers who
otherwise have no academic training could use further insights into phenomenon of conflict and conflict
management, in addition to derivative models of practice. Overall, however, this “how-to” mediation manual
would be a useful supplement to introductory mediation courses, as well as for individuals interested in a
broad overview of the micro- and mezzo-levels of
conflict management process and practice.
HOW TO RESOLVE CONFLICT:
A Practical Mediation Manual
by James Gilman
Rowman & Littlefield,
2017
Reviewed by Mary E. Fortson-Harwell, Doctoral Candidate, International
Conflict Management, Kennesaw State University
As an addition to the “New Voices” issue, current conflict resolution
students were invited to submit a review of a favorite book.
Three such reviews are printed here, along with a review of a career
advice book that may be of interest to New Voices.
