Mediation: A Concept for Information and Communication Sciences [Hardcover]

Mediation is a very old practice that has been reborn to meet the needs of the contemporary world. It is thus increasingly present in today's societies. This book presents the theoretical foundations of mediation, as well as the way in which teachers and researchers in Information and Communication Sciences (ICS) have taken up this concept. Whether it is communicational, informational, cultural, organizational or societal, mediation belongs to a field of research, instituted by ICS, which sees in it a process of overcoming conflict, restoring communication and deconstructing social connections.

Mediation: A Concept for Information and Communication Sciences inaugurates this set through its contribution to a state of the art of the theory and concepts used by the ICS community. It is addressed to teachers, researchers and students, as well as information professionals wishing to think about their daily practice.

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Preface ix

Introduction xiii

Part 1. Epistemological Foundations 1

Introduction to Part 1 3

Chapter 1. Exploring the Concept 5

1.1. A conceptual approach 6

1.2. The origins 8

1.3. Professional mediation 10

1.4. Mediation and peace 13

Chapter 2. The Constituent Elements of Mediation 17

2.1. The third party 17

2.1.1. From the word to the concept 18

2.1.2. Models and functions of the third party 19

2.1.3. The power and authority of a third party 22

2.1.4. The symbolic third party 24

2.2. Relation 26

2.2.1. A concept present in numerous fields 27

2.2.2. Relation as a process 28

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