Question

Considering a hypothetical situation, describe a scenario when negotiation efforts would be considered ineffective.

Answer 1

There are situations where the other party to negotiation is either too rigid or too influenced by some ideology that has virtually finished off his /her ability to think rationally. In such situations, any kind of negotiation is futile.

The hypothetical situation given here is inspired by one of the many situations of religious fanaticism where the influence of religious preachings on some individuals radicalise them to such an extent, that their ability to think beyond the religion is simply finished off. In those situations, religion becomes their sole guiding force, and no scope is left for rational thinking. The scenario is where one set of people following a particular sect are made to believe that all other sects are bad, and their followers should die. There is no scope of negotiations with a person that considers you worthless and fit for a brutal death, and is hell bent on killing you at the first opportunity.