Culture and Mediation In International Crises

In order to measure the impact of culture and a state’s identity on state behavior in international crises, specifically in regards to mediation and its outcome, this paper tests hypotheses rooted in both the international relations and cross-cultural psychology literatures, implementing analysis at both the international system level and the domestic state actor level. At the international system level, this paper finds that cultural difference between adversaries affects whether or not mediation occurs during an international crisis, but not whether or not these mediations are effective in reducing tensions if they do occur. At the domestic state actor level, we find that there are certain facets of cultural identity that lead to a state being more or less open to requesting or accepting third-party mediation during an international crisis, and others that affect whether or not these mediations are effective in reducing tensions.