Photograph Source: kremlin.ru – CC BY 4.0

Vladimir Putin has been demonized. Not only is the president of the Russian Federation under indictment by the International Criminal Court for war crimes, he has been compared to Hitler, Stalin, and Saddam Hussein. Already in 2012, Reuters cited references to Putin as a “czar-like autocrat,” a “KGB thug,” More recently, after the invasion of Ukraine, Al Jazeera referenced Putin with words like “evil,” “unhinged,” and “unstable.” Should heads of states negotiate with people who are under indictment for war crimes or worse and are called “evil,” “unhinged,” and “unstable”?

One reference to answer the question about negotiating with the evil Putin is Biblical. The Book of Job begins with a casual negotiation between “the Lord” and his sons, including Satan. “The Lord” boasts about “his servant” Job and Job’s piety. Satan replies that the only reason Job is so pious is because he is blessed with success in family and wealth. As Satan notes; “But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.” That’s the challenge. Will Job remain pious if he is no longer blessed?

And “the Lord” accepts the challenge. “Behold, all that he hath is in thy power, only upon himself put not forth thine hand.” So “the Lord” accepts that Satan could take away all Job’s privileges, but not kill him.

According to the Bible, “The Lord” negotiated with the Devil. Negotiating with the Devil is also the title of a book by the journalist/activist Pierre Hazan – Negotiating with the Devil. Hazan’s argument is that to establish peace in conflict zones........

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