Negotiation and Conflict Management: From the Interpersonal to the International

Harvard FAS

At all levels of society, how can we turn disagreement into productive negotiation?Conflict is an inevitable aspect of human life—from everyday disagreements with family and friends to sociopolitical divisions that shape shared institutions and international affairs. Yet while some disagreements escalate into polarization and mistrust, others lead to cooperative problem-solving and creative breakthroughs. What explains this difference? What separates destructive conflict from constructive…