USAID's work in promoting the rule of law in developing and transitional societies over the last decade has led to an interest in the use of alternative dispute resolution, or "ADR." Drawing on this experience, this Guide is intended to provide an introduction to the broad range of systems that operate under the rubric of ADR, and to explore and clarify the potential uses and benefits of ADR. The primary focus of the Guide (and therefore of the research) is on the uses of ADR related to the rule of law; other applications of ADR are discussed but not as thoroughly explored.