Two leaders walk into a room…

There’s no shortage of conflict in the world. I have an idea that I think would be effective in resolving some of those conflicts. It’s a crazy, unrealistic, and unethical idea, but I don’t think that’s any different from what we see from leadership these days: unethical, unrealistic, and crazy.

I hope you enjoy this thought experiment set-up as much as I enjoyed fleshing it out.

The Room

The room itself is little more than four concrete walls, a ceiling with an automated light, and a nondescript metal door with a slot on the floor. The only things in the room are two chairs, a simple table, two beds — each with a small bundle — and a single toilet/sink unit. Essentially, it’s a large prison cell.

In that same light, anyone who is admitted to this room is first made to change into very basic, but reasonably comfortable, clothing.

The lights are automated to turn on and off in-line with the rising and setting of the sun, and food trays are given and collected through the slot in the door each day.

A basic room, basic necessities of life, and the most basic, and humbling, clothing.

The Residents

Now, in this room, are ushered, injected, shoved, delivered, admitted, thrown, directed, or otherwise unceremoniously placed, two leaders of differing sides, groups, or opinions.

These could be heads of state, other types of global leaders, local political leaders, community leaders, business leaders, or even family leaders. I say unceremoniously, as this is intended to be an exercise in removing all sense of prestige, status, or affiliations. They are human beings like any other; it just so happens that they represent many other fellow human beings.

When stripped down to this most basic and fundamental representation of who they are — with no expensive suits, no assistants, no advisors, no talking points, and no escape — their leadership is put to the test.

The Audience

Every possible angle and sound in this room (with the exception of the toilet) is captured and broadcast live online. The organizers of this project do so on countless instances of every platform available, as the likelihood of various parties attempting to take it down are high — especially when political representatives are involved.

The unwilling participants are not aware they are bing recorded — though they would likely assume as much — much less live broadcast to the entire world. The recording devices are completely invisible and undetectable.

The Premise

There is one more element in the room which has yet to be mentioned. On the table, in the center of the room, is a card upon which is written a simple message: You will both remain in this room until you have come to an amicable resolution, and not a moment before.

Insincere and desperate promises in order to escape the room are ignored. Only those resolutions which are backed by genuine, thoughtful, and respectful debate are considered to be valid. In fact, the standards which these resolutions must meet in order for that door to open are as severe as the issues the two leaders face.

The Reaction

The world would get to see how two individual leaders behave in an environment where they are faced with the simplicity of human-to-human. No assistants, notes, or smartphones. No edits, no cuts, no moderator to intervene. No escape from the issues they face until they choose to face them.

How do they handle themselves one-on-one? Sleeping in the same room as their nemesis, using the same toilet, eating together. Facing each other day-in and day-out — for as long as it takes.

How do their constituents/followers react to that behaviour?