Who is an arbitrator?

An arbitrator is a person or some times an ad hoc (for the duration of the arbitration) body, who will evaluate a conflict or litigation by the versions presented by each side. The arbitrator will then, after careful analysis, issue a decision that most often is binding and obligatory, resolving and concluding the conflict or litigation.

Arbitrators differ from mediators in that a mediator has the purpose to make the sides agree on middle terms while an arbitrator does not strive for the agreement between the parties but for a resolution of the conflict in a fair manner and according to justice.

Most often, conflicts and litigations may first be submitted to a mediator and only if the mediation fails, the problem will be submitted to an arbitrator.

An example of arbitrators, are judges, but in international relations as well as in commercial and private issues, arbitrators may be appointed who usually have background and are graduated in law and have or are assisted by someone having experience in interpersonal psychology.