Negotiation Alchemy: Global Skills Inspiring & Transforming Diverging Worlds

Citation

Silva, S.A.M. and Hughes, K.B. (2013), "Negotiation Alchemy: Global Skills Inspiring & Transforming Diverging Worlds", Journal of Educational Administration, Vol. 51 No. 1, pp. 98-100. https://doi.org/10.1108/09578231311291477

Peace begins with each of us – in our homes, schools, businesses and communities. Having a certain understanding of what people stand for is what Nancy Erbe (2011) in Negotiation Alchemy: Global Skills Inspiring and Transforming Diverging Worlds imparts to her readers. It is that awareness of self that peace building can begin. Erbe posits that everyday people bring about respect, peace and understanding through compromise and collaboration.

In Section I, “Ordinary” People Are Building Peace with Conflict Tools, Dr Erbe introduces the concept of “creating peace [as] a purposeful choice that is built and carried on over time” (p. 1). The concept of second track diplomacy is introduced as those peace efforts of informal citizens through the process of mediation and negotiation to prevent war or to rebuild society through the “development of culture and institutions that sustain peace” (p. 2). The efforts of average people can cross‐racial and ethnic lines to allow peace to be created and co‐created. According to the author, the threat of violence will not create a lasting peace and injustice, oppression and bullying must face resistance from those both inside and those outside the conflict.

Erbe discusses that modern negotiation involves complex issues beyond the division of a “fixed‐pie”. Negotiation “encompass [es] complex layers of interests and needs to be explored, identified and satisfied, rather than split” (p. 6). Negotiation involves an integrative approach to the problem as a whole to enable a superior outcome. Resolution is possible through a series of interest‐based negotiation for all parties involved in the conflict. The author discusses ideas put forth by Robert Axelrod to indicate that “negotiations must begin cooperatively and [that] giving generously builds goodwill throughout the process” (p. 7). It is critical to avoid the creation of a “defensive, hostile climate and transforming broken trust is harder than beginning in ways that earn and build trust” (p. 7). Stakeholders must come together with respect for the other parties involved prior to successful negotiation. “Collaborative mediation aspires to increase sustainable (durable) resolution through building civil society cooperation rather than dependence on state oversight” (p. 9). The author posits that informal processes can minimize conflict's costs and improve the lasting outcome of negotiation.

In Section II, Conflict Resolution Can Decrease Violence and Bullying, Erbe discusses “ways that conflict resolution tools and skills are showing promise in reducing violent interpersonal conflict with high risk young people” (p. 15) that stress no violence parameters and ensures that citizens are part of the solution. Examples cited include anti‐bullying campaigns and work with violent youth. Through the author's experience, she believes successful negotiation includes “good faith rules of engagement [which] protects good will from being exploited and abused. It simultaneously ensures the power balancing, or equal treatment and democratic participation […] and is absolutely necessary for process credibility and legitimacy” (p. 17). This concept of fair play provides a level playing field where parties come to negotiation from a place of balance and mutual respect.

Erbe identifies the key characteristics of an effective mediator. These skills include: “(1) a consistent commitment to suspend judgment regarding all concerned and offer an open mind that is free from bias and prejudice towards the party(ies) in conflict – evidenced in the mediator actions as all are encouraged and treated in equivalent ways and perceive their participation as equal and fair, (2) sincere interest in hearing and deeply understanding those in conflict, and (3) the ability to listen carefully and accurately (p. 17)”. These skills are necessary to provide the self‐scrutiny needed to truly act in an impartial manner during mediation and to incorporate feedback from observers to improve one's skills.

Erbe introduces the concept of the peace‐building continuum beginning with a containment and reduction of violence and ending with the best of innovation. In Section III, Facilitative Mediation Sparks Innovation through Skill the author again discusses the need for a specific skill set on the part of the mediator to become a master of negotiation. Finding common ground to negotiation is critical to the mediator's success. Innovation requires a commitment to exploration of new ideas and concepts and to search for common ground participants in negotiation must show a willingness to accept a conflict of ideas and be open minded to minimize defensive responses to unique approaches to resolution of the conflict in question.

Section IV discusses Skillful Conflict Process Shows Promise in the Face of Violent Ethnic Conflict. Dr Erbe identifies that citizen diplomacy has been shown to be effective when the mediator meets certain requirements. Top recommendations for cross‐cultural conflict process consist of: “include[ing] all voices and encourage active participation, tell the truth, and increase seriousness of participation” (p. 59). This highlights the author's belief that successful negotiation requires a high skill level on the part of the mediator to develop a culture of trust needed to obtain positive outcomes with “buy‐in” from all parties concerned.

In the final two sections, African Leaders Look to Conflict Resolution for Progress and Mediation at Its Best Builds Democratic Capacity, Erbe reminds her readers that the capacity for peaceful conflict resolution can happen even in the most discordant regions of this world. Whether it is called restorative or reparative justice, the underlying emphasis is to repair the harm caused by hatred, opposition and violence through the interconnectedness of community members, victims and offenders. Peace through collective and collaborative involvement of all in the community can bring about transformational results in some of the most brutal regions in Africa and Latin America.

Erbe posits the question that when violence and power are the prevalent issues in our world, how is peace brought so that those who truly deserve it are able to benefit by it. She suggests what she deems obvious to some is to consider empowering and supporting the conflict work of the community members themselves (p. 87). The words of Mandela eloquently speak to this potentiality; “He developed a capacity for putting himself in the shoes of the enemy and thinking through a situation from the perspective of the enemy […] He taught the underground that it must respect rather than simply hate the enemy. If you hated the enemy, you dismissed him, depersonalized him; and as a result, you would always underestimate his ability to destroy you. On the other hand, if you respected your enemy, you never forgot how formidable he was […] Hatred would kill you, not the enemy” (Mandela, 2007, p. 87).

Erbe continues the exploration of restorative justice in her analysis of Latin America's attempts to reform the judicial systems in the hopes of bringing about a society that depends less on outsiders and more on collaborative processes with all stakeholders concerned. It is the citizenry that ultimately can and will make the difference. As with some African countries, there are those in the Latin American Government who are trying to use restorative justice as an alternate means to imprisonment and a way of healing communities. Building on earlier chapters, Erbe discusses the concept of how mediation can build democratic capacity. In the case of Latin America this capacity could facilitate good governance in the efforts to combat violence and corruption in the justice system. “Through the use of many forms of mediation, such as ombuds mediation, mediated decisions, policy and rule making, facilitated dialogues in ethnic conflicts and mediated litigation, this section continues to analyze what is essential in the complex issues of conflict resolution” (p. 130).

The author of this book has selected examples for careful consideration by the readers of its contents. The book is recommended for policy makers, community and organizational leaders, negotiators, students and all those who have a vested interest in searching for strategies to help increase “positive peace” in our communities, cities and nations. Conclusions imply that negotiations must expect success first, making potential failure a secondary concern. All parties must be held accountable for their part in the negotiation process. They must accept that simply creating “negative peace” is a temporary solution without lasting results. All stakeholders must relish change, set high expectations and consider each other's needs while acknowledging and engaging the cultural context of the situation.