Reconciliation is defined as "the renewal of amicable relations between two persons who had been at enmity or variance; usually implying forgiveness of injuries on one or both sides." Reconciliation is viewed, in general, as a profound restorative process. It goes beyond settling a dispute to repair the underlying relationship itself. In constitutional or human rights law, it involves resolving deep historical grievances.
Conciliation is defined as "the adjustment and settlement of a dispute in a friendly, un-antagonistic manner." It is commonly used as a method of Alternative Dispute Resolution to help parties reach an agreement before escalating to trial or arbitration.
Rapprochement is termed as "an establishment or resumption of harmonious or friendly relations, especially between countries." In general, it is primarily a political and diplomatic term rather than a technical legal one. When used in a legal or international law context, it is defined as the re-establishment of a harmonious or friendly relationship between parties, most commonly sovereign nations, after a period of estrangement or conflict.
Settlement is broadly defined as "an agreement ending a dispute or lawsuit." Historically and across distinct editions, it is further framed as an arrangement where parties with disputed matters reach a compromise to determine what is coming from one to the other, terminating a controversy in consideration of mutual concessions.
Compromise is defined as "an arrangement arrived at, either in court or out of court, for settling a dispute upon what appears to the parties to be equitable terms, having regard to the uncertainty they are in regarding the facts, or the law and the facts together". It is heavily emphasizes that a compromise is an agreement born out of mutual consent where each party adjusts their difficulties by making concessions, preferring a guaranteed middle ground, preferring a certain outcome over the gamble of a trial, where the potential for victory is offset by the risk of total defeat.
Harmonization is defined as the process of changing differences on different measurements, procedures, or schedules to make them uniform and compatible. In a broader legal and statutory context, it refers to bringing different laws or legal systems together into a harmonious state by aligning unique aspects to ensure consistency, agreement, and smooth interaction. Rather than completely erasing or replacing unique legal traditions, harmonization focuses on reconciling friction points so that separate frameworks can function cohesively without contradiction.
The term adjustment is broadly defined as the determination of an amount due, the settlement of a claim, or the bringing of something into a proper relation or alignment.
A claim encompasses the assertion of an existing right, a demand for money or a legal remedy, and the operative facts giving rise to an enforceable right. Ultimately, it represents the legal demand used to obtain possession, enjoyment, or compensation.
The term resolution has multiple distinct definitions depending on the specific legal context. In matters of legislative practice and public assemblies, a resolution is a formal expression of an opinion, intention, or decision by an official deliberative or legislative body, public assembly, town council, or board of directors. While a "resolution" is the ultimate goal or outcome of an agreement, Black's Law Dictionary defines Alternative Dispute Resolution as a formal "procedure for settling a dispute by means other than litigation.
The term determination carries two primary legal definitions depending on the context of the case or property in question. In a court of law, a determination is the formal decision, judgment, or decree of a court of justice. In the context of estates, property, or legal rights, a determination refers to the ending, expiration, or bringing to a close of an estate, interest in property, right, power, or authority.
The term self-determination primarily describes a principle of international law and constitutional governance: "The fundamental right of every person to freely decide on their own political status and to pursue their own choice of economic, cultural and social development."
Recovery is defined in its most extensive sense as "the restoration or vindication of a right existing in a person, by the formal judgment or decree of a competent court at his instance and suit, or the obtaining, by such judgment, of some right or property which has been taken or withheld from him".
An inherent right is defined as "one which abides in a person and is not given from something or someone outside itself". It is a right that an entity or individual possesses purely by virtue of their existence or essential nature, rather than a privilege granted by an external authority, government, or positive law.