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Great Negotiations: Agreements that Changed the Modern World
Words as much as weapons have shaped the course of history. Whether to avert, resolve, assist, or secure the outcome of a conflict, diplomacy in the modern age has had great triumphs and bitter failures, from the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, which narrowly spared humanity from a nuclear Armageddon, to the Treaty of Versailles after World War I, which created problems that still confront us today. Drawing on primary sources, transcripts, and interviews, Great Negotiations: Agreements that Changed the Modern World tells the stories of eight key episodes in modern diplomacy. From Benjamin Franklin securing crucial French support for the American revolution to Reagan and Gorbachev laying the groundwork to eliminate an entire class of nuclear weapons, Fredrik Stanton explains what each party brought to the negotiating table, the stakes, the obstacles to success, and how they were overcome.
“In a time when negotiations, both great and small, continue to shape our world, this book provides an excellent opportunity to learn from the past and understand the present.” —Kofi Annan, Nobel Peace Prize Winner and former Secretary General of the United States
“A thought-provoking, informative book, highly recommended for all readers interested in international affairs.” —Library Journal
“For anyone with an interest in diplomacy and political history, Stanton's book is both entertaining and informative.” —Foreign Policy Watch
“Every professional concerned with dispute resolution and every student of negotiation has much to learn from Fredrik Stanton's lively stories of eight history-shaping negotiations.” —Robert H. Mnookin, Chair Program on Negotiation, Harvard Law School
“An excellent introduction into some of the great triumphs and failures of modern diplomacy.” —Seattle Post-Intelligencer
“An interesting, informative study well worth reading and pondering.” —American Diplomacy
“Stanton deftly illustrates that the power of haggling can easily rival that of any army or warhead.” —Roll Call
“Exhaustive research and careful thought have enabled Stanton to employ an extraordinary writing talent to produce a contribution to history and a source of enjoyable reading.” —New York Law Journal
“Stanton brings back to life both famous and some long forgotten personalities in the history of major American, European, and Asian negotiations. He persuasively makes his case for the importance of negotiators and negotiations both when wars can be kept from beginning and when wars end. He weaves in deft descriptions of the personal strengths and foibles of negotiators and homes in on the ability of the best to improvise when maneuvering on unfamiliar terrain.” —Ambassador Richard W. Murphy, Council on Foreign Relations
“In a time when negotiations, both great and small, continue to shape our world, this book provides an excellent opportunity to learn from the past and understand the present.” —Kofi Annan, Nobel Peace Prize Winner and former Secretary General of the United States
“A thought-provoking, informative book, highly recommended for all readers interested in international affairs.” —Library Journal
“For anyone with an interest in diplomacy and political history, Stanton's book is both entertaining and informative.” —Foreign Policy Watch
“Every professional concerned with dispute resolution and every student of negotiation has much to learn from Fredrik Stanton's lively stories of eight history-shaping negotiations.” —Robert H. Mnookin, Chair Program on Negotiation, Harvard Law School
“An excellent introduction into some of the great triumphs and failures of modern diplomacy.” —Seattle Post-Intelligencer
“An interesting, informative study well worth reading and pondering.” —American Diplomacy
“Stanton deftly illustrates that the power of haggling can easily rival that of any army or warhead.” —Roll Call
“Exhaustive research and careful thought have enabled Stanton to employ an extraordinary writing talent to produce a contribution to history and a source of enjoyable reading.” —New York Law Journal
“Stanton brings back to life both famous and some long forgotten personalities in the history of major American, European, and Asian negotiations. He persuasively makes his case for the importance of negotiators and negotiations both when wars can be kept from beginning and when wars end. He weaves in deft descriptions of the personal strengths and foibles of negotiators and homes in on the ability of the best to improvise when maneuvering on unfamiliar terrain.” —Ambassador Richard W. Murphy, Council on Foreign Relations
304 pages, Paperback
First published March 4, 2010
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About the author
Fredrik Stanton
2 books1 followerAuthor of Great Negotiations: Agreements that Changed the Modern World, Fredrik Stanton is a John C. Whitehead Fellow of the Foreign Policy Association. He has appeared on C-Spans Washington Journal and Voice of America, and his writing has been published in the Washington Post.com, Forbes.com, Politico, the Boston Herald and the United Nations Associations A Global Agenda.
Mr. Stanton is the former president and publisher of the Columbia Daily Spectator. He has served as an election monitor in Armenia, Republic of Georgia, Bosnia, Kosovo and Azerbaijan.
Mr. Stanton received a BA in Political Science from Columbia University."
Mr. Stanton is the former president and publisher of the Columbia Daily Spectator. He has served as an election monitor in Armenia, Republic of Georgia, Bosnia, Kosovo and Azerbaijan.
Mr. Stanton received a BA in Political Science from Columbia University."
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
April 6, 2018
Reminded me of my love for history. Recurring point that successful negotiators consider ways for the other side to ‘save face’ and consider whether a deal is satisfactory to constituents. Since conflict is political, conflict transformation requires political strategies.
The fact that the eight examples of Western-based negotiations are described as the ones “that changed the modern world” is limiting (would love to see similarly clear historical accounts of negotiations with civil society movements, e.g. the landmine ban, human rights treaties, etc).
Learned how much global attention was on the Russo-Japanese conflict and Portsmouth Treaty of 1905, Dr. Ralph’s Bunche’s ground-breaking life, including work for the UN and with Egypt/Israel, and how recent the arms race was, but also the destruction of thousands of weapons between the US and USSR.
The fact that the eight examples of Western-based negotiations are described as the ones “that changed the modern world” is limiting (would love to see similarly clear historical accounts of negotiations with civil society movements, e.g. the landmine ban, human rights treaties, etc).
Learned how much global attention was on the Russo-Japanese conflict and Portsmouth Treaty of 1905, Dr. Ralph’s Bunche’s ground-breaking life, including work for the UN and with Egypt/Israel, and how recent the arms race was, but also the destruction of thousands of weapons between the US and USSR.
March 13, 2022
Very interesting overview of the historic events in the négociations and a good starting point for anyone looking to learn about these events. The main criticism I have of this book is that it is a little shallow in details of events in many of the négociations. This is especially true when looking at this as a two part interaction. While we get a detailed view of how one side approached the situation, and the considerations and concessions they made it is completely missing the perspective on the other side of the table. Even looking at this as a narrative from one perspective the book misses details on the discovery moments that lead to the breakthrough.
June 23, 2025
I read this during my MBA and remembered loving it. Just read it during book club and less in love. Good historical information, but had some quirks. Super detailed at times and zoomed over others. Seemed to plod along then have a twist conclusion at the end of the chapter (not desired in nonfiction). Later chapters seemed better (author found his groove? first hand accounts more approachable? situation better known?). Worth a read, but not a glowing recommendation.
May 3, 2012
There are eight chapters in the book. Each chapter is a different negotiation starting with Franklin at the French Court in 1718 and ending with The Reykjavik Summit in 1986. Each chapter stands along and is very well researched. I was familiar with all but one chapter. That one is The Portsmouth Treaty, 1905. This is a treaty Teddy Roosevelt negotiated between Russia and Japan. This is the first chapter I read.
Here is how Chapter 4 begins.
The Portsmouth Treaty, 1905.
"With the balance of power holding Russian ambition in check in Europe in the late nineteenth century, Russia turned its attention eastward."
An interesting start but to me the most interesting was Roosevelt's comments after the treaty was signed. Pick the book up and see what Teddy Roosevelt predicted would happen as a result of this treaty.
Here is how Chapter 4 begins.
The Portsmouth Treaty, 1905.
"With the balance of power holding Russian ambition in check in Europe in the late nineteenth century, Russia turned its attention eastward."
An interesting start but to me the most interesting was Roosevelt's comments after the treaty was signed. Pick the book up and see what Teddy Roosevelt predicted would happen as a result of this treaty.
May 14, 2012
I preface my comments with an explanation of my four-star rating. Ordinarily, the only books I give four- and five-star ratings are those that absorb me, that are unputdownable. GREAT NEGOTIATIONS by Fredrick Stanton is not that. Rather, I give it four stars for what it is, not an absorbing story but important stories that make up a history book.
These eight stories span the time of colonial America to the Cold War, and each shows how words, negotiations, changed the world. It is not a book I would want to sit and read cover to cover as I would a novel.But it IS a book that I would read two or three times.
It's the kind of book most of us want in our bookcases.
These eight stories span the time of colonial America to the Cold War, and each shows how words, negotiations, changed the world. It is not a book I would want to sit and read cover to cover as I would a novel.But it IS a book that I would read two or three times.
It's the kind of book most of us want in our bookcases.
May 30, 2025
I’ve used chapters in this as case studies for a graduate level course I teach in International Conflict Management. Easy to read, covers the subjects in both a scholarly and engaging narrative style. I would recommend for those who want to see behind the scenes of successful international negotiations, pick up some transferable skills, and educators who might pair this with negotiation texts.
April 9, 2013
A great book that goes into good detail about several negotiations. Stanton goes through the individuals who were involved and the importance of their actions.
This book has great insights on how the diplomatic process is conducted.
Furthermore, it is easy to read and quite enjoyable as well.
This book has great insights on how the diplomatic process is conducted.
Furthermore, it is easy to read and quite enjoyable as well.
June 23, 2018
A really cool set of narratives about highly impactful negotiations on the world stage.
August 25, 2010
Good blend of entry-level info for the non-specialist and readability.
January 24, 2012
not excellent, not awful. middle of the road. but easy to read.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews