Dispute System Design: A Comparative Study of India, Israel, and California

Abstract

Alternative dispute resolution ("ADR") is practiced around the world with myriad approaches, though not without common ground. In an increasingly interconnected world, the sharing of this knowledge and experience has become a natural and even necessary step in the evolution of ADR. This Article compares the experience of three diverse court systems at different stages of ADR program development in Delhi, India; Tel Aviv, Israel; and San Mateo County, California. The first section briefly describes the origins of each court-annexed mediation program. The second section sets out a framework for analysis and then compares the three systems according to these analytic elements. This Article conlcudes with some observations on cross-cutting themes and trends for the future.