Introduction to Negotiation

The three chapters in Part I by Rudolf Schuessler, Cesare Zucconi, Julie Bernath Adou Djane Dit Fatogoma, and Briony Jones touch on negotiation for conflict resolution. Recent decades have brought two fundamental shifts to negotiation theory and its application in conflict resolution. First, fields of potential negotiation partners and arenas are broadening beyond those of conventional interstate diplomacy. Second, communication with non-state adversaries proves effective in many circumstances. With the emergence of alternative approaches engaging partners who are not official government representatives (e.g., diplomats or politicians) known as Track Two Diplomacy, such interactions build trust and humanize out-group adversaries. This creative conceptual expansion continues to develop, providing insights into the interdependence and relevance of many non-political entities involved in and/or impacted by conflict.