This book is about mediations involving public authorities. Dick Allewijn draws on his wealth of experience as an administrative judge and mediator in conflicts between public authorities and citizens to explore the distinctive aspects of these conflicts. He provides insights and strategies to help mediators do the best possible job. He analyses the various relationships and explains how mediation can improve them. Formal procedures invariably revolve around the legality of the actions taken by a public authority, but most citizens who challenge a public authority are concerned with fairness rather than legality. Public authorities have barely any room to manoeuvre on points of law but they can show a willingness to treat people fairly. In return, the public authorities ask citizens to be honest and state their case openly. By agreeing on a certain behavioural protocol the public authority and the citizen can take a step towards each other. This is much more in keeping with what
