The field of conflict resolution has lost a true giant in passed this August 25th of Harvard law professor Roger D. Fisher at age 90. Fisher is most well-known for co-authoring of the 1981 best seller “Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In.” This seminal text has sold millions of copies and been translated in to over 36 languages.
In any negotiation, he wrote—even with terrorists—“it was vital to separate the people from the problem; to focus on the underlying interests of both sides, rather than stake out unwavering positions; and to explore all possible options before making a decision.” Insight such as this has been used to resolve deeply protracted international conflicts and numerous national and local disputes. Fisher’s wisdom will be deeply missed.
To learn more about Roger Fisher visit these sites: