Chess pieces from opposing sides collaborating to build a bridge

Frenemies in Power: How Embracing Your Rivals Can Lead to Success

Rhea Morgan in Business & Economy December 2025 • 3 min read.

"Why Organizations and Governments Benefit from Collaborating with Their Opposites"

In today's interconnected world, organizations and governments often find themselves grappling with internal disagreements and external rivalries. Whether it's political parties navigating coalition governments or business divisions competing for project priorities, the ability to manage conflicting viewpoints is crucial for long-term success.

Conventional wisdom often suggests isolating or marginalizing opposing forces. However, emerging research indicates a more nuanced approach may be more effective: strategically engaging with rivals, sometimes referred to as "embracing the enemy."

This article explores the surprising benefits of fostering collaboration between opposing forces, drawing insights from a recent study on repeated interactions between power-hungry agents and a central authority. We'll uncover how strategic cooperation, rather than outright conflict, can lead to more stable and productive outcomes.

Why 'Embracing the Enemy' Works: The Power of Strategic Cooperation

Chess pieces from opposing sides collaborating to build a bridge

The study analyzes repeated interactions between two agents with conflicting interests—labeled the "friend" and the "enemy"—and a principal, or power broker, who aligns more closely with the friend. All three parties care about the leading agent's policy choices.

While initially, the principal might favor isolating the enemy, the research demonstrates that embracing the enemy – granting them power in exchange for moderation—can lead to surprising benefits. This approach creates a dynamic where the friend reciprocates, and the principal ultimately achieves more desirable policy outcomes.

Moderation and Stability: By giving the 'enemy' a seat at the table, the principal incentivizes them to moderate their policies, preventing extreme or disruptive actions.
Reciprocal Benefits: The 'friend' benefits from the enemy's moderation, creating a more stable and predictable environment for their own policy goals.
Increased Influence: The principal gains influence by strategically allocating power, fostering a balance between competing interests.

The closer the principal is to the friend, the greater the incentive to embrace the enemy. However, it becomes more challenging to uphold these promises over time, requiring a delicate balancing act.

Turning Rivals into Resources

In conclusion, embracing your rivals isn't about naively trusting your opponents; it's about strategically leveraging their presence to achieve more balanced and sustainable outcomes. By creating a system of checks and balances, leaders can transform potential conflicts into opportunities for innovation and progress, ultimately benefiting their organizations and communities.

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Everything You Need To Know

What is the core concept of 'embracing the enemy' as discussed in the context?

'Embracing the enemy,' in this context, refers to the strategic collaboration between opposing forces, such as political parties or business divisions. Instead of isolating or marginalizing rivals, the approach involves granting them a degree of power or influence in exchange for moderation in their actions and policies. This strategy aims to create a more stable and productive environment, leading to more desirable outcomes for all parties involved, especially the principal, or power broker. This contrasts with traditional approaches that favor constant conflict or exclusion.

How does the principal benefit from 'embracing the enemy' in the described scenario?

The principal benefits from 'embracing the enemy' through several key mechanisms. Firstly, by giving the 'enemy' a seat at the table, the principal incentivizes them to moderate their policies, preventing extreme or disruptive actions. Secondly, the principal gains influence by strategically allocating power, fostering a balance between competing interests. Thirdly, the principal's ability to achieve more desirable policy outcomes is enhanced by the reciprocal benefits that arise from the 'enemy's' moderation and the 'friend's' cooperation, creating a more stable environment for their own goals. The study highlights that the closer the principal is to the friend, the greater the incentive to embrace the enemy, making it a delicate balancing act to uphold promises over time.

What roles do the 'friend' and the 'enemy' play in this strategic cooperation model?

In this model, the 'friend' and the 'enemy' represent agents with conflicting interests interacting with a principal, or power broker. The 'friend' generally aligns more closely with the principal's interests. The 'enemy,' despite their opposing viewpoints, is strategically engaged. The 'enemy' is granted power in exchange for moderation, while the 'friend' benefits from this moderation, creating a more stable environment for their own policy goals. The 'friend' also reciprocates, contributing to more desirable policy outcomes for the principal. Their interaction is a dance of power, influence, and compromise orchestrated by the principal.

How does the concept of 'embracing the enemy' contribute to moderation and stability within an organization or government?

The act of 'embracing the enemy' promotes moderation and stability by incorporating opposing viewpoints into the decision-making process. When the 'enemy' is given a voice and a degree of power, they are incentivized to moderate their policies to avoid being marginalized. This creates a system of checks and balances, preventing extreme or disruptive actions. The presence of diverse perspectives leads to more balanced outcomes and reduces the likelihood of conflict. The principal benefits from this arrangement by gaining greater influence and achieving more desirable policy outcomes through strategic allocation of power and fostering cooperation between the 'friend' and the 'enemy.'

Beyond the study's specific context, what are the broader implications of 'embracing the enemy' for organizational success and innovation?

Beyond the specific context, 'embracing the enemy' offers significant implications for organizational success and innovation. By strategically leveraging the presence of rivals, organizations can transform potential conflicts into opportunities for innovation and progress. This approach creates a system of checks and balances, fostering a more balanced and sustainable environment. It encourages leaders to recognize that competing interests can be a source of new ideas and perspectives, preventing stagnation and promoting adaptability. This methodology can be applied to various scenarios, from business divisions competing for project priorities to different levels of government, which can lead to more effective governance and foster a culture of collaboration that drives progress.