Political Negotiation Vocabulary

noun a fence or screen set up behind a catcher to prevent the ball from going too far when it is missed

verb to act as a backstop for something

• The backstop is a mechanism to prevent a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
• The backstop is like a safety net to avoid any issues with the border in Ireland.
• The backstop is there to make sure things don't go haywire at the border.
• The backstop acts as a security blanket for the peace process in Ireland.

noun a theory or practice that emphasizes the importance of transactions or interactions between individuals or groups

• Transactionalism is a theory that focuses on the exchange of goods and services between parties.
• I don't really understand all this transactionalism stuff, can you explain it in simpler terms?
• I'm not a fan of all the transactionalism going on in the business world.
• In relationships, transactionalism can refer to a mindset of only giving when something is expected in return.

noun a reestablishing of cordial relations

• The two countries are working towards a reproachment after years of strained relations.
• There seems to be a reproachment between them after their big argument.
• I never thought they would make a reproachment, but I'm glad they did.
• The reproachment between the two rival companies was unexpected but beneficial for both parties.