Joseph P. Folger
Articles and Video:This is the complete interview by Robert Benjamin with Professor Joe Folger, co-author of "The Promise of Mediation" and one of the leaders of "transformational mediation," filmed as part of Mediate.com's "The Mediators: Views from the Eye of the Storm" Series. Joe Folger: Transformative Mediation for all Cases? - Video Joe Folger believes that the purpose of mediation is to give people voice and choice and moments of recognition are powerful and just as important as getting settlement. Joe Folger: Ideas for Mediation Training - Video Joe Folger feels that an important aspect of mediation training is to impress upon the participants that as mediators they will have influence on the disputants and to make conscious choices about what kind of influence they want to have and to be clear about their ideological principles behind these choices. Joe Folger: Conflict in the Field - Video The most widely used mediation model places an emphasis on helping people find common ground. His model is different. Transformative mediation is about supporting people in their differences if that is what people want. This has created an ideological clash in the field. Joe Folger: Mediation is Not Ideologically Free - Video Joseph Folger talks about how most mediators do not examine the underlying assumptions of their practices to inquire about why they are using certain techniques, or the values and beliefs that are the root of their practice. He argues that mediation is not ideologically free. Joe Folger: Background in Communication - Video Joseph Folger describes his early experiences in the field of mediation. Joe Folger: Why People Use Mediation - Video From his perspective, Joe Folger says that the purpose of mediation is to facilitate the transformation of the quality of the communication so that people can make the decisions that they need to make. Joe Folger: Perspectives on the Purpose of Mediation - Video Joseph Folger talks about the differing perspectives on the purpose of mediation within the field and the roots of these different ideological orientations. Joseph Folger: Empowering Parties to Make Choices - Video Joseph Folger discusses how the purpose of mediation is to come to new understanding, not necessarily agreement. The focus should be to empower people through facilitated communication to get clear about their choices. Diverse Organizations and the Evolution of the Mediation Field Five years ago I was a founder of an organization that illustrates how I see the mediation field evolving. The Institute for the Study of Conflict Transformation was created in 1999 to provide resources and assistance for those using the transformative approach to conflict intervention. It emerged from the network of practitioners and researchers who expressed interest in developing the transformative framework shortly after the publication of The Promise of Mediation. 1 Comment Products: |
Dr. Folger is a Professor of Communication at Temple University in Philadelphia. He received a Ph.D. in communication from the University of Wisconsin and served on the faculty of the University of Michigan prior to his appointment at Temple. He is a former chair of the communication department and the former Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies at the School of Communications and Theater. He conducts research and teaches in the area of conflict management, mediation, group process and decision-making.
Dr. Folger has worked extensively as a third party intervener and mediator in organizational, community and family disputes. He has been the program chair for the National Conference on Peacemaking and Conflict Resolution and has helped to establish several major conflict intervention programs. He is currently a senior consultant with Communication Research Associates where he conducts communication skills training, coaching and conflict intervention.
Dr. Folger has published extensively in the area of communication, conflict and mediation. His recent books include the award-winning volumes Working through Conflict: Strategies for Relationships, Groups and Organizations, 3rd Edition (with S. Poole and R.K. Stutman) and The Promise of Mediation: Responding to Conflict through Empowerment and Recognition (with R.A.B. Bush). He has also published numerous research articles as well as the edited volume, New directions in mediation (with T. S. Jones). Most recently he completed a two-year mediation training development project funded by the Hewlett and Surdna Foundations. He is also co-editor, with R.A.B. Bush of the new publication, Designing Mediation: Approaches to Training and Practice within a Transformative Framework (Institute for the Study of Conflict Transformation, 2001).
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