Negotiating with terrorists: The iterated game of the Taliban Korean hostage case

Abstract

The purpose of this essay is to describe the Taliban Korean hostage situation in a theoretical perspective, and to suggest possible strategies of enhancing the negotiation power of the threatened. The results show that dealing with terrorists should be a constant dialectical process of firmness and softness. A government negotiator should be adamant about the principle, but at the same time seek alternative options to turn the current hostage negotiation into a route for possible agreements. © 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.