Third party intervention occurs in a diversity of settings, but there is no common language that can be used to describe what third parties do in all these settings. There is a need for such a common language to facilitate an understanding about the nature of effective third party intervention. There is also a need for a better account of how third parties intervene across the variety and number of settings in which they occur. Sheppard's taxonomy is a significant step in this direction. Further, there must be more mechanisms to help retard the rate of escalation in disputes. This should include the institution of procedures that provide a number of avenues for settling the dispute prior to going to arbitration. Procedures should also provide for giving priority to mild interventions in conflicts, since such interventions have proven to be more effective from the perspectives of the disputing parties. Other needs are to (1) educate third parties about the most effective intervention techniques, (2) tailor interventions to the intensity of conflict, and (3) tailor interventions to the system's flexibility. Nine references are listed.