Sure! Let's break it down:
Coercive Power: This is the ability of one person or group to force or intimidate another into doing something. It's like having a strong hand in a negotiation where you can push the other side to agree to your terms because they fear the consequences of not doing so.
Bargaining Relationship: This refers to how two parties (like in a negotiation) interact with each other. In a good bargaining relationship, both sides try to reach a fair agreement without using threats or force.
Mitigate: This means to make something less severe or intense. In the context of bargaining, it means finding ways to reduce the impact of coercive power.
So, when parties are negotiating, they try to create a better relationship where they can discuss things openly and reach a compromise. However, the ability of either side to exert coercive power (or pressure) still plays a role in how the discussions unfold. This means that even if they want to work together, the threat of one side using force or power can still affect decisions and the outcome of the negotiation.