The podcast is back from a break over Lent and we're diving straight in to the most relevant event happening globally right now. The war between the US/Israel and Iran is over five weeks old now and has had a profound impact regionally and around the world. Is peace possible at this point? What would it look like to negotiate and build towards a sustainable future in the Middle East? Dr. Josh Weiss joins the show to explore the complexities of international negotiation, back channel diplomacy, and the shifting landscape of global diplomacy, especially in relation to this current conflict. Dr. Weiss is a Senior Fellow at the Harvard Negotiation Project, co-founder of the Global Negotiation Initiative at Harvard University and also directs the MS in Leadership and Negotiation program at Bay Path University.

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Resources and Links from the show

Joshua Weiss Website

Conversation Notes (AI Generated)

05:50 Dr. Josh Weiss' Background in Negotiation
07:49 The Role of Back Channeling in Negotiations
08:54 Fundamental Elements of International Negotiation
12:50 Shifts in International Law and Diplomacy
17:20 The Consequences of Power Dynamics in Diplomacy
18:51 Long-term Effects of Military Actions
21:30 The Importance of Negotiation in Conflict Resolution
24:22 The JCPOA: Pros and Cons
28:33 The Dynamics of Compromise in Negotiation
31:10 Challenges in U.S.-Iran Negotiations
33:11 Challenges of Ceasefires and Regional Dynamics
35:21 The Role of Gulf States and Regional Players
38:00 Israel's Military Calculations and U.S. Support
40:42 Negotiation Challenges Amidst Rhetoric
44:50 Economic Pressures and Their Impact on Negotiations
50:27 Broader Solutions for a Sustainable Peace

Theme music Kirk Osamayo. Free Music Archive, CC BY License