The Problem of Legitimacy in Mediation

Contemporary Issues in Law, Vol. 9, No. 1, pp. 48-60, 2008

University of Queensland TC Beirne School of Law Research Paper No. 09-10

14 Pages Posted: 11 Mar 2009 Last revised: 27 May 2009

See all articles by Jonathan Crowe

Jonathan Crowe

University of Southern Queensland - School of Law and Justice

Rachael Field

Bond University - School of Law

Date Written: March 10, 2009

Abstract

Mediation is becoming more and more prominent as a mode of legal dispute resolution. The problem of legitimacy in mediation raises the question of why mediation is legitimate as a means of settling social disputes. This issue mirrors a long-running and deep-seated problem of legitimacy in law generally. We argue that the most promising strategy for justifying the normative force of law - namely, that law provides a mutually beneficial mechanism of social coordination - does not translate straightforwardly to the mediation context. A distinctive response to the problem of legitimacy in mediation is therefore needed. The consensual nature of mediation may render it legitimate in some contexts, but it is unlikely to do so in others. Our conclusion is threefold: the problem of legitimacy in mediation exists; it is distinct from the problem of legitimacy in law generally; and the problem is more intractable than is generally thought.

Keywords: Alternative dispute resolution, mediation, consent, legitimacy

Suggested Citation

Crowe, Jonathan and Field, Rachael, The Problem of Legitimacy in Mediation (March 10, 2009). Contemporary Issues in Law, Vol. 9, No. 1, pp. 48-60, 2008, University of Queensland TC Beirne School of Law Research Paper No. 09-10, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1336370

Jonathan Crowe (Contact Author)

University of Southern Queensland - School of Law and Justice ( email )

West Street
Toowoomba, Queensland 4350
Australia

HOME PAGE: http://jonathancrowe.org/

Rachael Field

Bond University - School of Law ( email )

Gold Coast, QLD 4229
Australia

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