The War for Peace: George H. W. Bush and Palestine, 1989-1992 Page: 4
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Perceptions in the Arab-Israeli Peace Negotiations," Israeli scholars Shaul Mishal and
Nadav Morag attempt to explain the expectations and perceptions that the Israelis, Arab
States, and Palestinians have for each other when negotiating for peace. Their main point
is to explain how the hierarchical nature of the Israeli state has made it difficult for the
more decentralized and 'networked' Arab states to develop a relationship of mutual trust.
They argue that the Israeli and American states are based on a rigid hierarchy of
government wherein the people normally take their cues on how to perceive outsiders
from the government, usually with little or no question.
According to them, hierarchical states, usually negotiate towards a concrete goal,
which is usually thought about in stark 'yes or no' terms, leaving very little room for
abstraction. On the other hand, networked states have a horizontal structure of
government, where the different authorities are locked in a balance of power dynamic.
Also, and this is especially the case with the Arab states, societies tend to be fragmented,
with each faction taking their own cues on how to perceive outsiders. The authors
include a table noting the differences between hierarchical and networked states that
seems especially poignant to the US/Palestinian/Israeli relationship. For example, it
notes that, networked states are usually externally imposed, and hierarchical states rely on
clearly defined rules and procedures. The authors include a small scale example of how
relations between networked and hierarchical states play out. It involves a Saudi
company negotiating with a Swedish one. When a deal was reached, the Swedes
promoted their negotiators to a higher position. When a new team came in to close the
deal, the Saudis threatened to break off negotiations.4
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Arduengo, Enrique Sebastian. The War for Peace: George H. W. Bush and Palestine, 1989-1992, thesis, August 2009; Denton, Texas. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc11061/m1/10/: accessed May 30, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; .