Negotiation Journal is pleased to offer its readers these announcements of recently published books of interest. A listing in this section does not constitute an evaluation of the book's merits, nor does it exclude a book from consideration as the subject of a review in Negotiation Journal at some later date. Suggestions of books for inclusion in this section should be sent to [email protected].
Druckman, Daniel. Doing Research: Methods of Inquiry for Conflict Analysis. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 2005. 408 pages. $49.95 (paperback), ISBN: 0761927794.
Designed for students of every social science discipline, Doing Research: Methods of Inquiry for Conflict Analysis, examines both the philosophical underpinnings of conflict analysis research and the practical considerations involved in undertaking such potentially difficult but rewarding work. It provides guidelines on how to develop and address research questions using a variety of methodologies, examining both quantitative and qualitative approaches. One reviewer called it “a gem,” while another wrote that the “book provides a wonderfully rich array of ideas about ways to do research for both the scholar and practitioner . . . enriching the analysis and practice in the conflict resolution field.”
Herrman, Margaret S. (ed.). The Blackwell Handbook of Mediation: Bridging Theory, Research, and Practice. Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishing Professional, 2005. 448 pages. $109.95 (hardcover), ISBN: 1405127422.
The Blackwell Handbook of Mediation comprises thirty essays by practitioners and theorists who are, in the words of editor Margaret S. Herrmann, “passionate about their work.” The authors explore both the cultural and institutional frameworks that have created intervention processes, exploring the circumstances under which certain intervention techniques work and why. The book's approach is interdisciplinary; topics include variations in mediation practice, procedural characteristics, workplace mediation, restorative justice, the role of power, the role of emotions, the manager as mediator, and the future of mediation.
Crocker, Chester A., Fen Osler Hampson, and Pamela Aall (eds). Grasping the Nettle: Analyzing Cases of Intractable Conflict. Washington, DC: United States Institute of Peace, 2005. 436 pages. $22.50 (paperback), ISBN: 1929223609.
The authors of Taming Intractable Conflicts: Mediation in the Hardest Cases and editors of Herding Cats: Multiparty Mediation in a Complex World, among other titles, continue their examinations of international conflict with this book, which focuses on conflicts that “seem destined to never end.”
The book comprises fifteen articles examining intractable conflict both globally and specifically. The first section identifies some defining characteristics and underlying dynamics of intractable conflicts, while the second section focuses on current case studies of long‐running violent conflict in places like Israel–Palestine, Sudan, the Balkans, and Kashmir. Noting that even intractable conflicts eventually end, the conclusion looks at strategic approaches and tactical steps that have helped mediators and conflict managers resolve such conflicts and create peace.
Benoliel, Michael, and Linda Cashdan. Done Deal: Insights from Interviews with the World's Best Negotiators. Avon, MA: Adams Media, 2005. 257 pages. $19.95 (hardcover), ISBN: 1593372620.
Whether new to the field or a seasoned pro, negotiators never seem to tire of hearing stories of how it is done. In this book, thirty negotiating stars from politics, diplomacy, law, and business share their “war stories” of how they did (or did not, in some cases) achieve a “done deal,” revealing key strategies along the way. First‐hand accounts are provided by former Senator Bob Dole, former Secretary of State James Baker, former Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres, Time–Warner Vice Chairman Kenneth Novack, Playboy Enterprises President and CEO Christie Hefner, former U.S. Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky, and famed sports agent Leigh Steinberg.
