Dispute Resolution and International Law: The United Nations Dialogue Among Civilizations

The United Nations Dialogue among Civilizations initiative for the Year 2001 may contribute another dispute resolution technique for the global community. Elements of negotiation, mediation, arbitration, and adjudication and legal principles relevant to dialogue are reviewed. Dialogue, understood as a daily aspect of human interaction on many levels and in many situations, may lead to relationship-building and long-term conflict avoidance. Dialogue leads to learning and understanding other perspectives and may result in wellaccepted resolution of misunderstandings and reduction of conflict. This article suggests that dialogue may be useful for lawyers, arbitrators, and judges as an alternative to other forms of dispute resolution, or for settlement of certain issues within a dispute