Ritual has been long viewed as an undisputed and indisputable part of (especially religious) tradition, performed over and over in the same ways: stable in form, meaningless, preconcieved, and with the aim of creating harmony and enabling a tradition's survival. The authors represented in this collection argue, however, that this view can be seriously challenged and that ritual's embeddedness in negotiation processes is one of its central features.

"This book explores one of the most basic skills employed by lawyers on a regular basis. They negotiate with their colleagues, clients, and on behalf of clients with other parties. It is a book that can be used as the primary text in a Negotiations class or as one of several books. It explores the six distinct stages of bargaining interactions, and various negotiating tactics attorneys might use. It covers various psychological factors likely to influence bargaining interactions, plus the possible impact of ethnicity and gender on such endeavors. It has separate chapters covering plea bargaining, transnational interactions, human rights negotiations, and multi-party dealings. It also covers important ethical issues negotiators are likely to encounter. Negotiating exercises are included at the end of chapters to demonstrate the specific areas covered in those chapters"--

In the field of negotiation theory, the Harvard Project’s Getting to Yes and Donald Trump’s The Art of the Deal occupy polar opposition locations on a spectrum considering distributive and integrative negotiation theories. The Art of Getting More Back in Diplomacy offers case studies from international negotiations in which the author participated that can help illustrate the tactics and theories of each type of negotiation and to make students in law, business, and other fields into better negotiators. Among the case studies are lessons drawn from negotiating denuclearization with North Korea, political reconciliation in Libya, human rights improvements in China, Israel-Palestinian peace processes, and UN negotiations over surveillance, privacy, atrocities prevention, LGBT rights, and other fundamental freedoms. By illustrating these lessons, The Art of Getting More Back in Diplomacy strengthens the tools that students and teachers of negotiations should have in their negotiating toolbox. Perhaps most importantly, Richardson provides concrete examples of how a negotiator is likely to Get More Back for their clients if they deploy these tactics, rather than having them used against the negotiator.

Written by a veteran salesman and negotiator with a track record spanning millions of pounds in sealed deals, this book draws on the most advanced techniques used today by elite negotiators and professional influencers.