Intercultural mediation from a European perspective

Mediation is one of the most appropriate and effective forms of intervention. Today, due to rising globalization and interdependence, professional encounters occur increasingly between persons holding different beliefs, values and behavior. Many scholars assume that the intercultural approach could provide a great support for facing these new challenges in an appropriate and effective way. However, confusion exists among ‘multicultural’, ‘transcultural’ and ‘intercultural’ terminology and semantics. After a short review about intercultural mediation in Europe, grounded on the author’s as well as additional empirical research, this chapter will promote intercultural mediation, meaning interventions that consider both, similarities and differences between cultures, and that promote encounter, contact, dialogue, interaction, and conflict management.