Can Mediation Restore Trust in Politics?

“My political ideal is democracy. Everyone should be respected as a person and no one should be deified.” Albert Einstein

From Political Performance to Political Dialogue

In 5th-century BC Greece, politics was shaped in part by the Sophists, who presented themselves as teachers of knowledge and charged for their instruction.They considered themselves sources of knowledge and therefore dedicated their time to oratory and teaching.

Living alongside the Sophists, the philosopher Socrates taught politics without charging for his instruction, famously saying, "I only know that I know nothing." He believed that knowledge was a seed found within people and that only by asking questions and engaging in dialogue could a person arrive at different reflections; hence, the Socratic dialogue. The Sophists were mostly experts in oratory, quite different from Socrates and his understanding of politics. If we analyze today's politicians, we realize that some of their behaviors remind us of the Sophists.

For some time, we have been exploring the idea of mediating cities – communities designed around dialogue, peaceful coexistence, respect, solidarity, tolerance, and empathy.

Rebuilding Trust Through Mediation

But how can we put these values into practice when we have lost faith? The deepest damage of the crisis has not been economic alone. It has been a crisis of trust, values, and emotional wellbeing. This has generated so much discouragement among people. As social beings, we need connection, but we also need something to believe in: a sense of hope, shared purpose, and the possibility of building something together.

The events we have witnessed in recent years have deepened collective discouragement, anxiety, and fear of what comes next. When people believe that those at the top are permitted to act without consequences, trust in institutions weakens. The result is a sense that rules can be broken, wrongdoing becomes harder to forgive, and conflicts become increasingly difficult to resolve.

We cannot build positive alternatives from a mindset defined only by what is wrong.We must foster a paradigm shift with a clear, optimistic, and realistic approach, focused on the here and now. Let's rediscover our enthusiasm for the small things, look around us with appreciation, and humbly acknowledge that to learn, we must first unlearn.

It is no coincidence that the countries with the highest levels of corruption are also countries with the highest rates of violence and crime. This is where mediation becomes relevant to politics. Political leaders must rebuild their legitimacy, serving as examples of ethics and values. They seem oblivious to the concerns of citizens and to what they understand is necessary to combat violence and overcome the crisis.

Electoral strategies have become increasingly disconnected from the people they are meant to represent.The constant attacks between individuals and between parties further distance us from feeling represented. We need ethical political leaders who are good listeners, empathetic, emotionally sensitive, and collaborative, with the capacity for dialogue, mediation, and negotiation.

As Enrique Iglesias argued at the Conference on Ethics and Development in Buenos Aires, restoring an ethical dimension to public and private management is essential to rebuilding trust. (Castro and Cano 2004, p. 19).

What Political Leaders Can Learn From Mediators

We live in a world of uncertainty, of constant change and adaptation, yet our education, healthcare, social services, and justice systems are not being modified and adapted to these new realities. We cannot turn our backs on children; they will be the citizens of tomorrow; nor on families, they are our social and economic engines.

We want politicians who share the culture of mediation, who transmit it, and who help create new, mediating cities. The values transmitted through mediation are the values we long for in our current politicians. The tools of a mediator are the tools a good leader needs – a collaborative leader who brings together both experts and non-experts to make decisions that benefit the majority.

Listen and communicate well: Inform clearly, listen carefully, and manage both their own emotions and those of others.
Collaborate across differences: Work with members of their own party, other parties, organizations, and interest groups.
Choose dialogue over division: Replace authoritarianism and individualism with cooperation and constructive dialogue.
Turn values into policy: Use legislation and public initiatives to promote tolerance, inclusion, and unconditional respect.
Negotiate for better outcomes: Consider competing perspectives and alternatives while working toward solutions that serve the broader public interest.

To be a good mediator, one must lead by example. When political leaders learn to mediate rather than simply compete, they can begin to rebuild trust – and give citizens a reason to hope in politics again.

From Mediation to Action

The philosophy of mediation brings to politics an education in moral values and the ability to engage in dialogue with pressure groups, organizations, and individuals. We seek educational cities, mediating cities, that serve as examples of best practices and integration.

It is time to learn to unlearn from a political perspective and to train as mediators in communication, collaboration, negotiation, and conflict resolution techniques. Appreciative inquiry becomes one of the best tools to use in the field of political mediation. The welfare society depends on mediation, on a culture of peace and dialogue, and on values education.

Our future depends on reclaiming moral values and rebuilding a culture in which dialogue, cooperation, and mediation have a place in political life. A better world is possible with the involvement of politicians, business leaders, families, and citizens.

About the Author

Dr. Elena Baixauli is a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and a distinguished professional with 28 years of experience across psychology, mediation, sexology, conflict resolution, criminology, and mental health. She brings together academic depth, clinical experience and a strong commitment to human-centered conflict resolution and social impact.

References:

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Baixauli, E. (2015). Prevenció de la violència a l'escola: una proposta d'intervenció. Anuari de psicologia de la Societat Valenciana de Psicologia, 16 (2), 33-51.

Castro, R. M. and Cano, M.A. (2004). Buen gobierno corporativo, solución a la crisis de confianza. Contaduría Universidad de Antioquia, 44, 17-51.

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Romero, J. and Farinós i Dasí, J. (2011). Redescubriendo la gobernanza más allá del buen gobierno. Democracia como base, desarrollo territorial como resultado. Boletín de la Asociación de Geógrafos Españoles, 56 , 295-319.

The Center for Appreciative Inquiry. (n.d.). What is Appreciative Inquiry (AI)? The Center For Appreciative Inquiry. Retrieved September 9, 2026, from https://centerforappreciativeinquiry.net/resources/what-is-appreciative-inquiry-ai/