Testing the predisposition of millenials to mediation accross cultures. Implications for « mediation unfriendly » environments and recommandations for mediation training programmes.

We aim to assess whether there were similarities in the characteristics of millennials from two different countries: one in which mediation is an established practice (France), one in which it is not (Egypt); then to make recommendations, based on the results, to expand mediation training and practice in a mediation-unfriendly environment. We carry out an exploratory empirical comparison of two different groups of millennials from the two targeted countries, via open-ended questions, after they were exposed to competitive material. We offer an assessment of their levels of cooperativeness which serves as a barometer for their readiness to practice or engage in any form of mediation. The results indicate the high potential and readiness of the millennial generation, regardless of country context, for cooperation and thus mediation. These findings confirm and enrich existing research which has largely been from North America and English-speaking countries. Mediation, like negotiation, is a human skill, learnable and transferable. Mediation skills can be acquired and improved through education and training. However, the challenge of targeting millennials in countries that have a “mediation-unfriendly” environment implies creating institutions at the same time as educating people.