A t Harvard you can study negotiation. This being Harvard, there is in fact an entire academic programme dedicated to the craft. The principles are simple. Understand your alternatives—what happens if you fight rather than compromise—and your long-term interests. This being Donald Trump’s America, Harvard itself is now the case study.

The Trump administration has gone after Harvard University since April. It has cut billions in funding while also demanding an overhaul of its leadership structure, admissions and hiring. The