Diplomacy, Monday, September 12, 2022

[sith_happened]

"Let's get into non-family negotiations today," Anakin said, sweeping into the room. "North KoreaA rogue nation--or planet, if that's more familiar to you--that is trying very hard to acquire weapons of mass destruction for reasons they aren't explaining to anyone. They are very isolated, but in a sector of the galaxy--or world--that is of military and economic value and are extremely anxious to make their presence felt. Their actions are making their nearby neighbors extremely nervous, and the weapons they are attempting to master would have a range well past their immediate neighbors."

Anakin smiled. "So you have been dispatched to meet with their delegation," he said, "to convince them to stop their pursuit of these weapons. What would you offer in compensation? Or would you start immediately with threats? You may discuss this among yourselves--as diplomats do--before replying, or strike out on your own if you think your idea is that good."

Comments

Re: Solve the problem!

[outofthequiver]

Libby knew that, if they were going to start getting into worldly politics, she was far out of her comfort zone, or even just her zone of general knowledge, but, still, she really only had only question coming out of this scenario, and she felt it was a pretty good one, since the whole thing left her a little baffled:

"Why would anyone start immediately with threats?"

Call her sheltered (because she was), but that just seemed like a terrible idea right out the gate, if you asked her!

Re: Solve the problem!

[napking]

Gray could think of a few reasons! "Threats are easier. If you don't know why they even want the thing you know they want, then how are you supposed to figure out what to offer them instead? I mean, you can try to figure it out, or make educated guesses, or you could skip all that."

Sloth or long, weary experience talking? Hard to tell.

Re: Solve the problem!

[outofthequiver]

"But if you make a threat," Libby countered, "you'd have to follow through with it, and how does that help anything? Especially since they're clearly open to discussion, if we're going to go talk to them in the first place. We should hear them out; that's what we're here for."

Re: Solve the problem!

[napking]

"No, you just have to be willing to follow through on it," Gray argued. "There's a difference. If they're not willing to have it happen to them, then you win and you don't have to do the thing, and they don't get the scary weapons. If you figure out what they'll accept that's not weapons in exchange for not getting weapons, then you have to actually give them that. It's more work." He shrugged. "Threats are easier. I'm not saying better.

"And that's only if they're negotiating in good faith in the first place. They could take whatever you offer them and then turn around and go after the weapons again."

Re: Solve the problem!

[outofthequiver]

"That fact that they're easier," Libby felt compelled to counter, "is all the more reason why they're definitely not better. I'd much rather explore the better options instead of jumping right into whatever's easier. I think it's one thing to establish firm conditions and expectations, but threats right away? That doesn't seem to be the best choice for anyone involved."