We all negotiate every day, often without even realizing it. Whether convincing a child to go to bed or discussing a deadline with a colleague, we are practicing one of humanity's oldest arts. From prehistoric exchanges to modern ceasefire talks, negotiation remains the invisible thread that connects coexistence to survival.
This week, negotiations have been at the forefront of the news. For nearly two years, war has raged in Gaza. In October 2025, Israel and Hamas approved a ceasefire agreement and the release of the hostages—a breakthrough brokered in Egypt with the support of the United States, Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey. This agreement marks the first step in the 20-point peace plan for Gaza, proposed by US President Donald Trump.
In a world shaken by conflict, the art of negotiation is returning to the forefront. Behind every treaty, agreement, or compromise lies a centuries-old practice. "Negotiation"—a word that has taught human societies how to coexist.
When trading becomes dialogue
The noun "negotiation" appeared in French in the 14th century. It is borrowed from the Latin negotiatio, which means "trade, commerce," itself derived from negotium, "occupation, work, business." Originally, it applied mainly to commercial affairs.
From the 16th century onwards, the word came to designate the action of debating the terms of an agreement, the clauses of a contract, whether in a commercial matter, in a conflict of private interests or in the political and social sphere.
Used in the singular, it designates the art of negotiation or the peaceful resolution of conflicts.
From survival to strategy
Negotiation is as old as humanity itself. Long before diplomats gathered around tables or mediators occupied conference rooms, prehistoric humans were already practicing forms of exchange and compromise that were vital to their survival. In primitive communities, negotiation helped manage scarce resources, resolve conflicts, and ensure social cohesion within tribes.
According to anthropologists, our very evolution owes much to this ability. As human societies became more dense and complex, the need to manage tensions without resorting to violence became more urgent. Brain development, some researchers argue, was driven in part by the need to "read" others—in the sense of detecting deception, assessing trust, and anticipating outcomes. Negotiation thus became a kind of mental strategy that ensured a balance between self-interest and cooperation.
From wolves to diplomats
Negotiation didn't begin with Homo sapiens. Ethologists have long noted primitive forms of bargaining among animals. Wolves are readjusting the concept of hierarchy without mortal combat, chimpanzees are exchanging food for grooming. Even a dog's growl can be interpreted as an ultimatum: "this far and no further."
What distinguishes humans, however, is not the act of negotiation itself, but the consciousness that accompanies it. We can reason, anticipate, and frame conflicts in moral or strategic terms. We have built institutions—courts, parliaments, international organizations—to manage disagreements. Paradoxically, we remain reluctant to negotiate.
Why do humans resist negotiation?
Despite its obvious necessity, many people dread this process. Negotiation is often perceived as a sign of weakness, compromise, or manipulation. This emotional resistance, historians argue, is deeply rooted in human psychology. It reflects a tension between the instinct for cooperation and the fear of losing advantages.
And yet, history shows: from tribal councils to recent ceasefire talks in the Middle East, negotiation remains humanity's most enduring survival tool. It prevents conflicts from descending into chaos and transforms confrontation into the possibility of peace.
The ceasefire in Gaza between Israel and Hamas is now more than 3 weeks old, but it appears increasingly fragile. The similar ceasefire with Lebanon is even more shaken by daily Israeli raids and threatening of further escalations of war like situation. Even in the West Bank, the military backed settlers are on daily missions of killing, burning, destroying properties and livelihoods, plus an official system of apartheid and mass arrests, all in total daily escalation. And now the US president is threatening Venezuela and Nigeria. Is it all under some powerful game of persuasion or compromise??
As we're living an era of wars in different shapes and forms, from brutal barbaric wars to commercial wars and cultural dominance, the art of negotiation is becoming the corner stone of international stability and peace, thus this good analysis explaining the origins and modalities of it all.
As always , my profound many thanks to all.
