Mediation as “Ariadne's Thread” and The Art of Convergence of Interests

Mediation and negotiation between the parties begin with speech, conversation, debate, asserting one's truth, and instinct for the best outcome of victory. Mediation is an alive phenomenon, and the mediator maintains the balance of this phenomenon, and in this vivid process, the mediator is the one who keeps balance. Two poles need a balance, which will be discussed from the perspective of the art of debate. Mediation, as an art of convergence of interests, should be considered from the point of view of debates and confrontation of ideas. There are markers in human consciousness and culture that influence mediation and negotiation processes. For example, dialectic in the debates can be similar to fencing of the mind, which aims to prove one's truth. Also, the Homo Ludens play marker adds new layers to the mediation process and these layers create new obstacles to removing the emotional background of the dispute. A clear manifestation of the philosophical-religious foundations of mediation is the famous treatise “The City of God” by Saint Augustine. In the 21st century, mediation and negotiations returned in a modernized form as the best mechanism for resolving disputes and disagreements. In the process of finding a point of intersection of interests by the parties, the art of mediation of the mediator plays an important role. During the whole process, the parties should think about the best outcome, the acceptable outcome, and the absolutely unacceptable outcome. It is important to select the type of mediation opening meeting: general joint meeting or individual. A case-by-case review by the mediator before scheduling the opening mediation meeting may be a useful mechanism. As a result, the following process of negotiations will be adapted to the parties and become effective. To the author’s opinion, the mediator is the “Ariadne's thread” a pathfinder through the labyrinth of disputes that arise in mediation. How the labyrinth of mediation will be twisted and what layers will be added to it depends on how much one simple truth will intensify in the minds of the parties: “From birth, every man has the desire to be right” - Arthur Schopenhauer.