Accepted Quote by Gene Sharp
“Further, democratic negotiators, or foreign negotiation specialists accepted to assist in the negotiations, may in a single stroke provide the dictators with the domestic and international legitimacy that they had been previously denied because of their seizure of the state, human rights violations, and brutalities. Without that desperately needed legitimacy, the dictators cannot continue to rule indefinitely.”
About This Quote
Source Article: Political Negotiations, 2005
Democratic negotiators can unintentionally legitimize dictators, enabling their continued rule.
In simple terms: Negotiators may give dictators legitimacy.
Key Takeaway
Avoid empowering oppressive regimes.
Themes
politics
legitimacy
human rights
negotiation
dictatorship
Mood
cautious
critical
Type
analytical
political
When to use this quote
- peace talks
- UN mediation
- humanitarian interventions
Key Concepts
realpolitik
power dynamics
international law
Questions to Reflect On
- How can negotiators balance peace goals with ethical concerns?
- What safeguards prevent legitimizing tyrants?
A Different Perspective
Legitimacy can be a double‑edged sword, risking moral compromise.
![“We have reached a situation where a theory has been accepted as fact by some, and possible contrary evidence is shunted aside. [This is] mythology rather than science.” quote by Robert Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c31/robert-shapiro-26969_accepted_we-have-reached-a-situation-where-a-theo_19120.jpg)
