Scientific and philosophical prerequisites for the formation of ethnomediation as an interdisciplinary direction in modern science

Abstract

The article explores the influence of philosophical ideas on the development of a new applied field of modernscience — mediation and ethnomediation. The authors justify the relevance of mediation by citing the risinglevel of conflict in modern societies, driven by both psychological factors and socio-economic changes. Theyemphasize that mediation is becoming a key tool for reducing tension. Particular attention is paid toKazakhstan, where mediation is being actively implemented across legal, social, and interethnic spheres. Theinstitutionalization of this process is linked not only to the influence of Western practices but also to internalneeds for effective conflict management, as evidenced by the initiatives of President K.-J.K. Tokayev. Thearticle traces the philosophical foundations of mediation from antiquity to the present day. It analyzes theideas of Socrates (maieutics as a dialogue method), Aristotle (the «golden mean» and rhetoric), Cicero(consensus through rhetoric), Hobbes (rational compromise), Kant (categorical imperative), Habermas(communicative ac-tion), Buber («I-Thou» dialogue). The main conclusion is that philosophy — rangingfrom ancient ideas to twentieth-century theories — has shaped the value foundation of mediation,transforming it into a tool not only for dispute resolution but also for strengthening social harmony