What are the best negotiation frameworks for social justice in Community Organizing?
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Negotiation is a crucial skill for community organizers who want to achieve social justice goals. Whether you are bargaining with decision-makers, building coalitions, or resolving conflicts, you need to know how to communicate effectively and persuade others to support your cause. In this article, we will explore some of the best negotiation frameworks for social justice in community organizing, and how to apply them in different situations.
A negotiation framework is a set of principles, strategies, and tools that guide your negotiation process and help you achieve your desired outcomes. A good negotiation framework can help you prepare, plan, execute, and evaluate your negotiation, as well as deal with challenges and ethical dilemmas. There are many negotiation frameworks that have been developed by experts and practitioners, but not all of them are suitable for social justice purposes. In this article, we will focus on three negotiation frameworks that are based on the values and principles of community organizing: interest-based negotiation, transformative negotiation, and power-based negotiation.
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Shawanna Vaughn
Director at Silent Cry Inc Activist for those suffering from Silent Cry's. Mass incarceration and Violence prevention
One thing I’ve found helpful in community organizing is the ability to involve the the people you aim to serve. When we organize as coalitions and build equity in power it drives policy decisions and changes the narrative. Politicians work for the people’s interests and we tend to forget that when trying to be effective. Strategy is everything. Collect your own data as a Black lead organizer because Gallup and other data sources will never tell our numbers correctly. Leaders listen more than they speak. My biggest lesson learn to love you enough to take a breath and a break. The work never ends.
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Dr. Charbel Maydaa
Co-Chair @ ILGA Asia | Senior Visiting Fellow, Researcher, Advocacy Leader
In social justice and community organizing, effective negotiation frameworks prioritize relationship-building, mutual respect, and equitable outcomes. Like -Interest-Based Relational Approach centers on understanding and respecting mutual interests to find common ground. -Principled Negotiation from the Harvard Negotiation Project advocates for collaborative, win-win scenarios. -Transformative Negotiation focuses on empowerment and altering relationships positively. -Integrative Negotiation looks to combine interests for collective benefit. -Narrative Approach leverages the power of storytelling to foster empathy and understanding. Conflict Transformation aims to change the systemic roots of conflicts for lasting change.
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Mary Cheryl B Gloner
Social Change for Health Parity
The seminal works by Paulo Freire and Saul Alinsky have grounded me in all aspects of community organizing. Learning how successful community health initiatives translated their philosophical frameworks into social justice practice.
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Interest-based negotiation is a negotiation framework that focuses on identifying and satisfying the underlying needs, interests, and motivations of all parties, rather than their positions or demands. This approach strives to create win-win solutions that benefit everyone and cultivate lasting relationships and trust. It is especially beneficial for community organizers who wish to collaborate with allies, stakeholders, and potential supporters, while also addressing the root causes of social problems. To use interest-based negotiation, you must separate the people from the problem, focusing on interests rather than positions. You should ask open-ended questions, listen actively, and empathize with the other party's needs. Additionally, it is important to invent options for mutual gain by brainstorming creative solutions that can satisfy both parties' interests. Lastly, you should evaluate the options based on fair and transparent standards that both parties can agree on without using power or coercion.
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Esperanza "Hope" Reynolds
First, 'negotiation' is the wrong word, that is equivalent to quid-pro-quo. When we get involved in organizing to achieve social justice goals, we gather community members, discuss their goals, define our purpose and objectives and we stand firm in a balanced number of goals that carry forth the most important issues / resolutions to social problems. We are NOT successful at times, but achieved taking a Bond issue to Voters that was rejected because it would have saddled us with $25 Million debt. Communication was key, hard work achieved the result we wanted. Social justice in community organizing is most of the time, a thankless job with the only reward being: Making a difference in other people's lives!
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Oluwatumininu Adepoju
Regional Head Enterprise Operations| Expert in reducing operating costs and managing enterprise projects | Managed projects worth over $1 million while staying within allocated timelines and, budgets | ScrumMaster
In my view, human nature tends to lean towards self-interest, even when we attempt to conceal it. People often pursue their own interests, even in situations that appear altruistic, where there may still be underlying personal satisfaction or benefits. Consequently, one of the most effective approaches to negotiations is interest-based negotiation. However, successfully implementing this approach requires a considerable skill set to prevent the breakdown of law and order.
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Dr W.
Passionate CEO @ TDi London Limited | Art Promotion
Can anyone in this community give me any guidance on how to circumvate and get around my predicament ? Any guidance on how to get to speak to a LIVE person?
Transformative negotiation is a negotiation framework that focuses on transforming the relationship and the situation of the parties, rather than simply resolving a specific issue or dispute. This approach is useful for community organizers who want to challenge oppressive structures, systems, and attitudes, and who seek to promote social change and justice. To use transformative negotiation effectively, you must recognize the conflict as an opportunity to learn and grow, support empowerment and recognition of all parties involved, facilitate dialogue and deliberation between the parties, and seek transformation and justice. Encourage the parties to express their needs and interests clearly and confidently, help them communicate openly and honestly, explore the issues from different perspectives, and strive to achieve outcomes that enhance their capacity, agency, and dignity while addressing systemic causes of injustice.
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Chris Porter
Social Justice and DEI advocate.
When negotiating a transformative change, what gets bargained away or altered may impact what was thought of as transformative change. Examples: agreeing to vet all complaints through an intermediary or leadership positions open to internal candidates first as a step to increase diversity in leadership or empathy and diversity training and education for all staff 2 times a year - to include all levels of management. Be clear about the non-negotiable aspects of your transformation, but be open to alterations that may enhance the transformation.
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Oluwatumininu Adepoju
Regional Head Enterprise Operations| Expert in reducing operating costs and managing enterprise projects | Managed projects worth over $1 million while staying within allocated timelines and, budgets | ScrumMaster
Based on my observations, although transformative negotiations are highly desirable, it often takes time to conclude. Necessitating intervention while waiting for the final outcome. When I find myself in the position of conducting transformative negotiations, I typically adopt a two-pronged approach. This involves implementing a short-term plan to sustain the current system and a long-term plan aimed at addressing the fundamental issues. I always place significant emphasis on knowledge sharing. This proactive sharing of insights and information plays a pivotal role in shaping and shifting mindsets, which often lie at the core of conflicts. By doing so, I create a more conducive environment for constructive change and transformation.
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Power-based negotiation is a negotiation framework that focuses on power dynamics between the parties, rather than their interests or relationships. This approach is useful for community organizers who want to confront powerful adversaries, such as corporations, governments, or institutions, and who seek to change their policies or practices. To use power-based negotiation effectively, one must assess the power balance between the parties by analyzing the sources, types, and levels of power. Additionally, it is important to build your own power base by mobilizing resources and allies and creating leverage and influence. Power tactics should be applied to the other party in order to pressure them into conceding or complying. Finally, it is essential to manage power conflicts by anticipating and responding to the other party's moves and protecting your own interests and rights.
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Louis L. Reed, LADC, AADC
Social Impact Expert| Film Producer| CCJ Trustee| Certified & Licensed Practitioner| Author|
In my community organizing work I've relied on a few negotiation frameworks that really stand out for social justice: Interest-Based Relational Approach: This keeps the focus on mutual respect and shared interests, rather than personal conflicts. Principled Negotiation: Inspired by "Getting to Yes," it's about finding common ground and shared benefits.Transformative Negotiation: It goes beyond the immediate issues, aiming to change the systemic conditions fueling the conflict. Appreciative Inquiry: Leveraging what works well in a community as a springboard for improvement. Narrative Negotiation: Changing the story can change the game. It’s about shifting perceptions to open up new avenues of understanding
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brian banks
Fundraising, grant writing, business marketing consultant particularly interested in education, CED, health, safety, housing; jazz, Gil Scott Heron and classic hip hop lover
Find the "win-win". Identify something that has enough benefit for participants to continue engaging to a peaceful resolution and willingness to present to their constituents.
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Ibrahim S B.
Children, Women and Girls Advocate | Founder and CEO - Future Leaders Initiative SL
Negotiation is the process of reaching agreements, while community-level social justice entails equitable resource distribution and inclusivity within a community. The two most effective negotiation frameworks for social justice in community organizing include: Community-Based Agreements, empowering community decision-making and Restorative Justice Practices, emphasizing healing and accountability to foster fairness and inclusivity.
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