Ripeness and readiness theories in international conflict resolution

This paper offers a theoretical perspective on the relationship between ripeness theory and readiness theory within the structuralist paradigm of international mediation as a part of international conflict resolution. In order to do so, it explains the foundations of international mediation and these theories in question, discusses their primary notions and further argues and offers some practical generalizations for conflict analysis. It suggests that, first using readiness theory to understand each party separately, then using ripeness theory to map the bilateral coordination may be a better way to grasp basic foundations and change dynamics of the conflict to catch the ‘ripe’ moment.