When four cars drive up to an equivalent crossroad at exact the same time. Who’s first? Since all the drivers arrived at exact the same time, none of them has the right to go first, simply because they have to give priority to one of the other cars. Every car must give priority and has priority. The four cars are deadlocked.
The concept of being deadlocked is seen at other places as well. It works in computer science and it works in the economy. It even works in chess. When we’re deadlocked we are stuck. We can’t move.
Interestingly mother nature has found her way out of deadlocks. She always does. With chess it’s two people walking away from the chessboard: draw. The computer might crash and need a reboot. The economy might correct itself or is boosted by a central bank. And eventually one of the drivers will press the gas pedal and take priority.
Although it may feel that way sometimes, no deadlock is eternal.