Home > Law Journals > JDR > Vol. 2026 > Iss. 1 (2026)
Abstract
From property disputes in ancient Sumer to complex corporate conflicts in modern America, mediation has long served as a vital tool for resolving disputes without resorting to formal adjudication. Defined as “a process in which an impartial third party helps others resolve a dispute or plan a transaction,” mediation has been used to settle disputes since as early as 4500-1900 B.C.E. Over millennia, mediation has evolved in response to cultural, legal, and technological shifts, reflecting the diverse values and priorities of the societies that employed it.
Recommended Citation
Shannon Hoggatt,
From Ancient Practices to Modern Law: The Evolution of Mediation,
2026 J. Disp. Resol.
(2026)
Available at: https://scholarship.law.missouri.edu/jdr/vol2026/iss1/9