Principles in political negotiations

suomeksi

Matti Mielonen, a political reporter of Helsingin Sanomat, used the four-step negotiation framework to rate Finnish politicians. His article “Pekkarinen ranked highest among top politicians for negotiating skills” was published in March 2008.

Among the evaluated Finnish top politicians, Minister of Economic Affairs Mauri Pekkarinen of the Centre Party was judged to be the best negotiator. The highest-ranking political figures in the country, Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen and President Tarja Halonen, scored fairly low.
The evaluation was done before the uproar over the text messages of Minister for Foreign Affairs Ilkka Kanerva. Mielonen observed that “Kanerva was the fourth-best in negotiating skills, but he got the lowest marks in adhering to principle.”

Juhana, co-author of Neuvotteluvalta was quoted in the article: ”The idea of principle is difficult to define. It is a characteristic that matures over a long period of time in a politician. A trustworthy politician has created the impression that his or her behaviour is predictable. Capriciousness and opportunism bring down the grade".

Kanerva did not survive the text message uproar, and resigned. Alexander Stubb, previously a member of European Parliament and a refreshingly high-energy man, joined the Government in his place.

Adherence to principle is not only a private matter, but it affects the fates of nations. At the same article, I was asked to give my opinion on British top politicians as negotiators. I complimented the former New Labour prime minister Tony Blair as truly tough negotiator, which took power from the Conservatives and brought his country into the Iraq war even against the will of his own country (and in my opinion, against his own will). And he survived it without being destroyed.

After Blair left politics, Gordon Brown has not managed to maintain the New Labour strong position. On May Day, London got a new mayor, Boris Johnson, a Tory. It appears as if the charismatic Blair really was the backbone of his party, which has now snapped.

Martti Ahtisaari, the former President of Finland and an international elite negotiator, emphasizes principles in international negotiations. He has been a key negotiator in Namibia, Aceh and Kosovo. In these situations achieving the autonomy or independence of the region has been right in principle.

picture: Martti Ahtisaari & Sami Miettinen, London Heathrow June 2008

Ahtisaari emphasizes that before national sovereignty “the people of the world want two things: that both the police and the juridical system would treat everybody equally. If these two things are in place, the development towards something better is possible. But quite often that is not the case.” Equality is one of the key principles. A good negotiator puts emphasis on principles, equality, on a reputation of being just and having a long-term credibility.