Epistemological Foundations of Community Representation Management in the Mediation of Social Conflicts

Abstract

This study analyzed the relationship between community representation management and mediation in social conflicts, considering its impact on local governance. The findings showed that mediation processes were more effective when community representation was exercised in a participatory, transparent, and socially legitimate manner. Likewise, the intervention of public officials as mediators was found to strengthen institutional trust, provided that they demonstrated communicative skills, neutrality, and openness to dialogue. The results also revealed that, in contexts where vertical or directive practices prevailed, mediation lost its transformative capacity and tended to resolve only the surface of the conflict. In contrast, collaborative approaches promoted sustainable agreements and improvements in community cohesion. Based on these findings, the article highlights the need to consolidate management models that articulate participation, mediation, and social co-responsibility.}