In a world where the borders of the global community are fluid, and where disputants manifestincreasingly diverse attributes and needs, mediation - for decades hovering at the edge of disputeresolution practice - is now emerging as the preferred approach, both in its own right and as anadjunct to arbitration. Mediation processes are sufficiently flexible to accommodate a rangeof stakeholders (not all of whom might have legal standing) in ways the formality of arbitrationand litigation would not normally allow. Among mediation's many advantages are time and costefficiencies, sensitivity to cultural differences, and assured privacy and confidentiality.