Mass-dominated democracy: Democratic system in which mass actors have gained the upper hand over traditional ruling classes. (Sørensen 1993: 159)

Mass media: Government and non-government radio, TV, newspapers, and other electronic media or print publications used as means of mass communication.

Media freedom: The level to which the private sector’s radio, TV, and newspapers are allowed to operate independently and free of fear by government closures, reprisal or harassment.

Mediation: A problem-solving negotiation process in which an outside, impartial, neutral party works with disputants to assist them in reaching a satisfactory negotiated agreement. Unlike judges or arbitrators, mediators have no authority to decide the dispute between the parties; instead, the parties empower the mediator to help resolve the issues. The assumption is that a third party will be able to alter the power and social dynamics of the conflict relationship by influencing the beliefs and behavior of individual parties, by providing knowledge or information, or by using a more effective negotiation process and thereby helping the participants settle contested issues. (Moore 1996; cited by Schmid 1998: http://www.fewer.org/pubs/thes.htm)

Mediation process: Typically proceeds through four stages: creating the forum or bargaining framework; information gathering and sharing; problem-solving bargaining; and decision making. (Goodpaster 1997; cited by Schmid 1998: http://www.fewer.org/pubs/thes.htm)

Militarization: A process in which the military and its activities take an increasingly important role in the civilian functions of government. This is normally characterized by a rise in military expenditures, increased induction into the armed forces, and increased military influence in the country’s government and politics.

Military civic action: The use of preponderantly indigenous military forces on projects useful to the local populace in fields such as education, training, public works, agriculture, transportation, communications, health, and sanitation, and other sectors contributing to economic and social development. (US DOD: http://www.dtic.mil/doctrine/jel/doddict/)

Military operations other than war (MOOTW): The range of military actions required by the National Command Authorities, except those associated with major combat operations conducted pursuant to a declaration of war or authorized by the War Powers Limitation Act or a joint resolution of Congress in support of national security interest and objectives. These military actions can be applied to complement any combination of the other instruments of national power. (US DOD: http://www.dtic.mil/doctrine/jel/doddict/)

Military schools: Military schools or academies which admit students below 18 years of age. In most cases, pupils receive a combination of educational, vocational and military training. If such schools/academies form part of the country's armed forces, which is often the case, the pupils are considered combatants and therefore legitimate military targets. (Rädda Barnen 1998)

Minority people: Groups with a defined socioeconomic or political status within a larger society based on some combination of their ethnicity, immigrant origin, economic role, and religion, concerned about protecting or improving that status. (Gurr & Haxton, 1996: http://www.bsos.umd.edu/cidcm/mar/minrept1.htm)

Mobilization: The capacity of an organization that represents an ethnic (or other) group to get its members to support collective action. (Gurr & Haxton, 1996: http://www.bsos.umd.edu/cidcm/mar/minrept1.htm)

Mobilizing factors: Issues or processes around which the actors in the conflict are rallied.  In each stage of the conflict the mobilization of the groups involved can take a different shape.  For instance, an identity-related conflict can express itself around issues of language, religion, territory, etc.  The mobilizing factors can change per phase of the conflict.  (Arias Foundation 1998: 8)

Monitoring: Standardized collection and organization of information based on regular or continuous observation of and reporting on controversial events in conflict and crisis zones. It is done within a framework of prevention and damage containment, often by impartial outside observers. (Jongman & Schmid, 1994; cited by Schmid 1998: http://www.fewer.org/pubs.thes.htm)

Multi-track diplomacy: A synergy of peace-making efforts by several categories of actors based on their comparative advantage and expertise: governments, professional organizations, the business community, churches, the media, private citizens, training and educational institutes, activists; and funding organizations. (McDonald, 1996; cited by Schmid 1998: http://www.fewer.org/pubs/thes.htm)