negotiators
Those who bargain
Negotiators are people who conduct negotiations—discussions aimed at reaching an agreement.
The term applies across contexts: labor negotiators hammer out contracts, hostage negotiators talk down crises, and trade negotiators work out deals between nations.
The negotiators met for twelve hours before announcing a settlement.
A skilled negotiator balances firmness with flexibility.
Neutral conflict resolver
- arbitratorOne who resolves disputes
- diplomatOfficial foreign representative
- envoyAccredited diplomatic representative
- delegateEntrust authority to another
representative · intermediary · go-between · broker · facilitator · liaison · conciliator · peacemaker
Speaks with others
- dialogueSpoken exchange between parties
- discussionExchange of ideas
- parleyDiscussion between opposing sides
- deliberationCareful weighing of choices
consultation · back-and-forth · give-and-take · exchange · communication · caucus · roundtable · conference
Agreement through mutual sacrifice
- settlementResolved dispute or colony
- accordHarmony between parties
- contractEnforceable written agreement
- dealAgreement or distribution
pact · treaty · terms · concession · bargain · trade-off · middle-ground · resolution
Official foreign representative
- consulDiplomat in foreign city
- attachéEmbassy specialist officer
- chargé d'affairesActing head of mission
- embassyOfficial diplomatic residence abroad
consulate · diplomatic corps · foreign service · statecraft · protocol · international relations · bilateral · multilateral
mediator
Neutral conflict resolver
- arbitratorOne who resolves disputes
- diplomatOfficial foreign representative
- envoyAccredited diplomatic representative
delegate · representative · intermediary · go-between · broker · facilitator · liaison · conciliator · peacemaker · intercessor
talks
Speaks with others
- dialogueSpoken exchange between parties
- discussionExchange of ideas
- parleyDiscussion between opposing sides
deliberation · consultation · back-and-forth · give-and-take · exchange · communication · caucus · roundtable · conference · summit
compromise
Agreement through mutual sacrifice
- settlementResolved dispute or colony
- accordHarmony between parties
- contractEnforceable written agreement
deal · pact · treaty · terms · concession · bargain · trade-off · middle-ground · resolution · consensus
ambassador
Official foreign representative
- consulDiplomat in foreign city
- attachéEmbassy specialist officer
- chargé d'affairesActing head of mission
embassy · consulate · diplomatic corps · foreign service · statecraft · protocol · international relations · bilateral · multilateral · détente
persuasion
Convincing through reasoning
leverage · rapport · flexibility · composure · listening · assertiveness · finesse · shrewd · savvy · tough
- mediatorsmediator, mediators, arbitrator, arbitrators, conciliator
- trade stakeholderstrade representatives, trade associations, exporters, importers, chambers of commerce
- HumanitariansMother Teresa, Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi, Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr.
- BrexitBrexit, leave, remain, no deal, backstop
- labor negotiationssalary talks, wage disputes, collective bargaining, union demands, union talks
- peacemakerspeacekeeper, peace activist, peace advocates, peacemaker, peacebuilders
negotiatorsarbitrators
Neutral third-party deciders
judges · adjudicators · dictators · decision-makers · autocrats
negotiatorscombatants
Those engaged in warfare
aggressors · belligerents · warmongers · warriors · fighters
negotiatorsabsolutists
Those holding unconditional views
hardliners · obstructionists · refuseniks · zealots · dogmatists
- hostage negotiatorProfessional who parleys for captives
- peace negotiatorFacilitator of conflict resolution
- crisis negotiatorSpecialist resolving dangerous confrontations
- trade negotiatorSecures commercial agreements between nations
- treaty negotiatorsThose who forge pacts