Beyond Machiavelli : Tools for Coping With Conflict

by Roger Fisher, Elizabeth Kopelman, Andrea Kupfer Schneider

"Fisher and two colleagues associated with the Harvard Negotiation Project, Harvard Law School, spell out conflict resolution techniques useful at the international level, and also in other contexts."— Book News, Inc .

Genres: Communication, Psychology, Nonfiction, Business, Leadership, Self Help

168 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

Roger D. Fisher was Samuel Williston Professor of Law at Harvard Law School and director of the Harvard Negotiation Project.

Reviews

[Yasodhara Kapuge]

An Italian statesman and political theorist, Niccolo Machiavelli remains one of the most controversial figures of political history, in a negative way. He has always had a bad name. To be “machiavellian” is to be totally crooked and cunning. He was the first political thinker to differentiate politics from morality; focused on reality and what needs to be achieved rather than considering what was right or wrong. He had great emphasis on practical and pragmatic strategies over philosophical ideas. Despite the negatively popular opinion of many, I would safely consider him to be the father of "Modern Politics".

This book is not about Machiavelli. A product of the Harvard Negotiation Project this is a rule book for conflict resolution. While some of these rules are simply realistic, there is a hidden assumption throughout this book that all conflicts can and ought to be resolved, and that they are best resolved through compromise. These assumptions may be generally valid in a liberal society.

As Prof. Stanley Hoffman states (Professor at Harvard University, specialising in French politics and society, European politics, U.S. foreign policy, and international relations), the problem in many negotiations is knowing when no agreement is better than a bad agreement; on this, no book of negotiating tactics can provide this kind of understanding.

However, this was an interesting read. Given the incidents that has been transpiring in the past few months, I believe a translation of this book will immensely help Sri Lankan statesmen/ stateswomen to get a brand new perspective on basics in conflict resolution.

P.S- Anyone familiar with Machiavelli's theories may disagree with me. Open to discuss.
#europeanpolitics #internationalconflicts #internationalrelations #conflictresolution #bookreviews

[Marilyn]

Provided good advice on how to deal with conflict, but it was one of the most boring books I've ever read. This book was just not for me.

[David]

Not as groundbreaking as Getting to Yes, but serves as an adequate refresher.

[Joshua Guest]

Not a game-changer like Getting to Yes (Fisher has set the bar far too high to ever outdo himself). Still this short and easy read has some very good tools and principles for dealing with conflict: The one-sheet approach, diagramming the currently perceived choice, creating "yesable" propositions, understanding a conflict from different approaches (economics, law, literature, religion, psychology, history, business, sociology...), and looking at the seven elements of a conflict situation (interests, options, legitimacy, relationship, communication, commitment and alternatives).

[Justin]

Although the many diagrams made reading a bit of a stop and go process, Fisher's book made the principles of problem solving instantly recognizable and simple. Plus, the great historical/political dialogue made it difficult to put down!

[Chrys]

Good advice on how to deal with negotiations in an alternative way.

[Maria]

okay like a 2.5

[Lori Grant]

A should-read book on improving your business communication skills.