(3) The solution (alternative/resolution to the conflict)

To resolve a conflict is indeed an extremely challenging job. It requires correct understanding of the
causes of conflict and inexhaustible degree of patience. In order to resolve the issue, one should
acquaint oneself thoroughly with its history as well as its historical, political, social and economic roots.
The fifth episode of Season of the series entitled, Madame Secretary showed an intense conflict
between the three nations namely the United States, Iran and Canada. Elizabeth, the Secretary of the
United States of America, understand that one should be very clear that real resolution of the conflict
can be brought about only through a just solution in which some often called it as a “win-win situation”.
It must be noted that during a bilateral, trilateral or multilateral conflict that concerned parties should
feel that they have gained something, and not or at least should have the spirit of give and take. To
resolve the conflict among nations, Allen Bollings, the Negotiator of the Mideast Peace Talks, proposed a
solution and that was to engage such military actions to Iran. Elizabeth disagreed to his proposal and
believed that such coercively imposed solution can never be a lasting solution. A conflict can be said to
have been resolved only if it is freely acceptable by all parties concerned. Thus, the Secretary of the
United States of America managed to secretly meet the Iranian Ambassador Javani to offer him
alternative solution to the problem. She made a deal to him that the United States will lift the ban on
trade of commercial plane parts in exchange for Iran to shut down the reactor. In the case of Canada
and United States, the Secretary did a research on the Canadian pipeline in which the proposal was
deemed to be fabricated; but the President still approved it since he wanted to have a legacy. Elizabeth
throughout the whole episode created a strategy and it is to try and find elements which can create a
common ground or common agenda which can build confidence for the sides to work together. As what
stated earlier, there’s a spirit of give and take relationship to a win-win situation. Madam Secretary
understood that Security is often is the first priority and much conflict is aggravated by lack of trust. In
addition she also applied rationality in resolving the conflicts not by mere personal interests and
considered sequencing or to consider introducing an agreement in stages whereby each action is
dependent on another action