Power Balance: Increasing Leverage in Negotiations with Federal and State Governments-Lessons Learned from the Native American Experience

Negotiation is complex for Native nations engaged with federal, state, and local governments to solve complex issues, promote economic and community development, and protect and advance their legal and historical rights. Power Balance builds on traditional Native values and peacemaking practices to equip tribes with additional tools for increasing their negotiating leverage. Steven J. Haberfeld, cofounder and executive director of the Indian Dispute Resolution Service, has worked with Native tribes for forty years to help resolve internal differences and negotiate complex transactions with governmental, political, and private-sector interests. His book offers detailed instructions for mastering six fundamental steps in the negotiating process, ranging from initial planning and preparation to hammering out a comprehensive, written win-win agreement.

Format: Hardback
Length: 244 pages
Publication date: 03 February 2022
Publisher: University of Oklahoma Press

Negotiation, often perceived as a straightforward process of resolving conflicts through dialogue, can be a complex and challenging endeavor for Native nations when engaging with federal, state, and local governments. This is particularly true when it comes to addressing complex issues, promoting economic and community development, and safeguarding and advancing their legal and historical rights.

Power Balance, a groundbreaking approach, draws upon traditional Native values and peacemaking practices to empower tribes in modern times. By leveraging these values, Power Balance equips tribes with additional tools to enhance their negotiating leverage.

Steven J. Haberfeld, the cofounder and executive director of the Indian Dispute Resolution Service, has dedicated over four decades to working closely with Native tribes. His extensive experience has played a pivotal role in helping resolve internal differences and negotiate complex transactions with governmental, political, and private-sector interests. Haberfeld's expertise lies in blending Native ideas and principles with the strategies of "interest-based negotiation." Through this framework, he develops a comprehensive approach to overcoming the unique structural challenges associated with dealing with multilevel government agencies.

In his book, Power Balance, Haberfeld provides detailed instructions for mastering six fundamental steps in the negotiating process. These steps encompass initial planning and preparation, effective communication, building trust, finding common ground, and ultimately reaching a comprehensive, written win-win agreement. Throughout the book, real-life examples are provided to illustrate the practical application of these strategies.

By leveraging their special legal rights and historical status, tribes can maximize their negotiating power. Power Balance outlines measures that tribes can take to enhance their leverage, such as leveraging their political organizing strategies to level the playing field in obtaining their rightful benefits. Haberfeld includes a case study of the precedent-setting negotiation between the Timbisha Shoshone Tribe and four federal agencies, which successfully resolved disputes over land, water, and other natural resources in Death Valley National Park in California.

Through his book, Power Balance, Haberfeld aims to empower Native nations with the knowledge and tools necessary to navigate the complex terrain of negotiation and secure the best outcomes for their communities. By embracing traditional values and employing innovative negotiation strategies, Native nations can advocate for their rights, promote economic development, and build stronger relationships with federal, state, and local governments.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780806176512