This special issue highlights critical moments in negotiation, revisiting the theme of Negotiation Journal’s April, 2004 issue. Both special issues were preceded by workshops—one in 2003 and the other in 2019—where the ideas were presented and debated. In revisiting the theme, some insights have been reinforced, beginning with the importance of recognizing and leveraging critical moments in negotiations. The improvisational and fleeting nature of critical moments was a theme in 2004 and it continues forward in this issue, as well as the importance—for theory and practice—of tracing the causes and consequences of critical moments. There are new insights as well. There is increased attention in this issue on the dynamics associated with critical moments (escalating and de‐escalating) and the ways of placing critical moments in a broader context (locating critical moments in the context of intractable conflicts and “infinite games”). In addition, some key insights are expanded, and the issue has contributions that bridge across micro, meso, and macro lines of analysis. There is a more detailed overview of each of the articles in the joint introductory note that Dan Druckman and I have drafted for this special issue.

本期特刊强调了谈判中的关键时刻，重新探讨了《谈判杂志》的主题2004年4月号。在这两个特殊问题之前，都举行了研讨会（一次于2003年，另一次于2019年），在此期间提出并讨论了这些想法。在重新讨论主题时，从认识和利用谈判中的关键时刻的重要性开始，增强了一些见解。关键时刻的即兴性和短暂性是2004年的主题，并且在本期中继续向前发展，以及追踪关键时刻的原因和后果的重要性（对于理论和实践而言）。也有新的见解。在这个问题上，人们越来越关注与关键时刻相关的动力学（逐步升级和逐步降低）以及将关键时刻置于更广泛的背景下（在难以解决的冲突和“无限博弈”背景下定位关键时刻）的方式。此外，一些重要的见解得到了扩展，并且该问题的贡献跨越了微观，中观和宏观分析界。我和Dan Druckman为这个特刊起草的联合介绍性说明中，每个文章都有更详细的概述。