Here are two important concepts in negotiation:
1. Assymetrical information: if you have more information than the other side, you can beat them in a head-to-head negotiation. If the other side is ill-informed as to the rules, laws, history, policy, points of reference, etc, you can own them.
2. "Changing the Frame": if you can bring the other side to the point where they see the 'issue' as a problem both sides are trying to solve, there is a better chance they will work productively in a negotiation.
Powell is doing his best to Change the frame from "Us (the US) Vs. Them (arab nations)" to "Us (the West and the arab nations) Vs. Them (the terrorists)"-terrorism being the group problem. Check out this bit:
General Powell said that the Bush Administration was committed to working
with Palestinians and Israelis to end the conflict, but “reform does not have to
wait for that”.
“Now is not the time to argue about the pace of democratic reform or
whether economic reform must precede political reform,” he said.
“All of us confront the daily threat of terrorism. To defeat the
murderous extremists in our midst, we must work together to address the causes
of despair and frustration that extremists exploit for their own ends.”
Yes, it's in the group's interest to see this resolved, somehow. I hope Powell doesn't slide out of the international stage when he's done as Secretary of State.
No comments:
Post a Comment