Such workshops are intended to supplement and complement official negotiations. Kelman's approach differs from more traditional forms of mediation, which generally focus on the facilitation of negotiated settlements. Workshops facilitate the negotiation process only indirectly, by promoting an environment which would support opening official negotiations. Workshops are focused on promoting certain kinds of communication, rather than on producing a settlement. The author describes the general format of the workshops which he has facilitated.
Workshops are private, confidential, and unofficial.
There are generally three to six participants from each of the conflicting groups, and three to eight facilitators. Facilitators are generally academics. The participants are politically active, possibly influential, members of their communities. The participants are briefed on the nature of the workshop process in separate pre-workshop sessions. The workshops proper last two and a half days.