You can't get from the negotiation table what you can't get from the battlefield
The saying suggests that you need to have a strong position or leverage to achieve desired outcomes in negotiations, potentially implying that force or power is necessary to secure favorable agreements.
The Core Idea:
The saying suggests that if you are not strong enough or don't have enough leverage to win on the "battlefield" (whether literal or figurative, like a business negotiation), you won't be able to achieve your goals at the negotiation table.
Implications:
Strength and Power: It emphasizes the importance of having a strong position, whether through military might or economic power, to influence negotiations.
Negotiation as a Result: The saying implies that negotiation is not a starting point but rather a consequence of having already established a position of strength.
Potential for Conflict: It can be interpreted as a justification for using force or threats to achieve desired outcomes, as it suggests that negotiation is only effective if one has the backing of power.
Alternative Perspectives:
Diplomacy and Negotiation: Some argue that the negotiating table is where peace and resolution begin, suggesting that diplomacy and compromise are more effective than force.
Finding Common Ground: Effective negotiation often involves finding common ground and addressing underlying interests rather than relying solely on power dynamics.
Examples:
Historical Conflicts: Throughout history, countries have used military strength to secure favorable peace treaties or to influence other nations' decisions.
Business Negotiations: In business, a company with a strong market position or a unique product may have more leverage during negotiations with suppliers or customers.
Russia-Ukraine war: Through 3 years up and down, people are seeing the war is close to the end, but the battles seemed even intensified, that doesn't mean either party doesn't want to ceasefire, but to gain more chips from the battelfield that they can bring to the negotiation table.
Korean war: The Battle of Triangle Hill, also known as Operation Showdown or the Shangganling Campaign was fought from 14 October to 25 November 1952, after the negotiations at Panmunjom began to deteriorate in September 1952, neither side could be satisfied from the negotiation table, they sought again from the battelfield for solution.
