September 2025
The Prishtina Institute for Political Studies (PIPS) successfully organized the 4th Seminar of the School of Politics over the weekend, focusing on “Political Dialogue and Negotiation: Tools for Democratic Leadership.” This seminar served as both a training and a practical exercise aimed at strengthening participants’ skills in dialogue, negotiation, and democratic leadership.
Throughout three intensive days, participants explored the principles, practices, and real-world applications of political dialogue and negotiation as essential instruments for building solutions, fostering cooperation, and achieving shared goals in governance.
Day 1 began with Ms. Edita Tahiri, who led the session “Why Political Dialogue Matters”—emphasizing dialogue as a cornerstone of peacebuilding and effective governance. Later, Mr. Ditmir Bushati delivered an insightful lecture on “Lessons from Albania’s EU Path – Negotiation and Governance,” sharing Albania’s experience in EU negotiations and the strategic compromises that accelerated its progress.
Day 2 continued with Mr. Ilir Deda, who introduced the Basics of Negotiation and guided participants through a simulation exercise designed to develop their ability to frame issues, structure conversations, and navigate complex political contexts. The day proceeded with Dr. Mark Baskin, who conducted an interactive session on Models of Negotiation in Practice. Participants learned about interest-based negotiation, the role of mediators, and key tools such as BATNA and WATNA, applying them through group exercises and role-play scenarios.
Day 3 concluded the seminar with Mr. Bernard Nikaj leading a session titled “From Dialogue to Governance – Applying Negotiation and Compromise in the Balkans.” The discussion focused on translating dialogue and negotiation from theory into practice, highlighting their impact on governance and regional cooperation. Participants reflected on how these lessons could be integrated into their own political and institutional work.
The 4th Seminar wrapped up with a strong sense of engagement and collaboration, reinforcing the importance of dialogue and negotiation as fundamental elements of democratic leadership.
This seminar was organized with the support of Demo Finland and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland. The School of Politics is supported by the Council of Europe.
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