International Negotiation in a Complex World

By (author) Brigid Starkey, Mark A. Boyer, Jonathan Wilkenfeld

Publication date:

22 August 2016

Length of book:

218 pages

Publisher

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

ISBN-13: 9781442276710

The process of negotiation, standing as it does between war and peace in many parts of the globe, has never been a more vital process to understand than in today's rapidly changing international system. Students of negotiation must first understand key IR concepts as they try to incorporate the dynamics of the many anomalous actors that regularly interact with conventional state agents in the diplomatic arena. This hands-on text provides an essential introduction to this high-stakes realm, exploring the impact of complex multilateralism on traditional negotiation concepts such as bargaining, issue salience, and strategic choice. Using an easy-to-understand board game analogy as a framework for studying negotiation episodes, the authors include a rich array of real-world cases and examples—now updated with the results of the Paris climate change agreement—to illustrate key themes, including the intensity of crisis situations for negotiators, the role of culture in communication, and the impact of domestic-level politics on international negotiations. Providing tools for analyzing why negotiations succeed or fail, this innovative text also presents effective exercises and learning approaches that enable students to understand the complexities of negotiation by engaging in the diplomatic process themselves.

List of Illustrations
Preface
1 Introduction
Negotiation in Broad Context
Negotiation in International Relations
Negotiation as a High-Stakes Game
Structuring Negotiation
Summary
2 The Board
The International System
Negotiation Characteristics: A Checklist
Summary
3 The Players
Sovereign States as Negotiators
Transnational Actors
Actor Dynamics
Summary
4 The Stakes
The Traditional Issue Framework
Issue Salience in a Changing International System
Two-Level Negotiations
Summary
5 The Moves
Modeling Strategic Choices
Weighing Strategic Choices
Implementing Strategy
Summary
6 Outcomes
Identifying Important Trends
Analyzing Real-World Cases
The U.S.-Iraq Protracted Conflict: Balancing Force and Diplomacy
Looking Forward
Appendix 1: Instructors Guide to ICONS International Negotiation Simulation
Simulation as Active Learning in International Relations
Understanding the ICONS Simulation Process
Appendix 2: Student Guide: It’s Your Turn to Play the Game
Participation in ICONS Exercises: Understanding the Process
Phase 1: Preparation
Phase 2: Negotiation
Phase 3: Debrief
References
Index
About the Authors

This excellent text introduces students to the basic concepts, structures, processes, and outcomes involved in international negotiations in the complex global environment in which we live. The authors do an excellent job of presenting the basic components of international negotiation theory in a clear and engaging fashion, while also drawing on the latest scholarly research in a user-friendly manner. One comes away recognizing that negotiated agreements require a mutual ability to forego the optimal for mutually satisfactory terms that meet the fundamental needs and interests of all negotiating parties. Therefore, compromise and creative invention of mutually beneficial formulas that transcend conflicting interests are required in order to achieve joint benefits; achieving these outcomes requires patience, creativity, and a lot of hard work. This text is thus of value for both students approaching the subject for the first time as well as for experienced practitioners who may gain new insights into strategies for negotiating better, fairer, and more durable international agreements on some of the most complex but important issues of our time.