Negotiation and Conflict Resolution

When war or crisis comes, how can we respond? This course equips students of diplomacy and peace and conflict studies with the understanding and practical negotiation skills needed to address unfolding and protracted conflicts and tensions. To this end, the course explores the causes of conflict (and peace) and the various mechanisms employed by the international community in response. It also provides students with an opportunity to study the theory and practice of the essential diplomatic art of negotiation. In the words of leading negotiation scholar, William Zartman, “Diplomacy is mostly negotiation, and negotiation is the business of foreign policy and international relations.” This course introduces and examines international frameworks for negotiation and conflict resolution. It surveys the causes, character and future of conflict and explores the approaches and skills needed for interstate and intrastate conflict prevention and resolution. Broad and topical concepts of diplomacy such as 'preventive diplomacy', 'coercive diplomacy' and 'peacebuilding diplomacy' are used to inform our understanding of different phases and types of conflict management. As part of this course students undertake an intensive negotiation workshop. This flagship element provides students with first-hand exposure to the challenges of managing conflict through diplomatic negotiation. You will acquire and refine new negotiation and mediation skills through a variety of learning methods, including demonstration, practice and simulation. The negotiation workshop aims to develop the ability of students to think politically and strategically, to examine key elements in the planning and conduct of negotiation and mediation, to identify essential qualities and skills for effective negotiation and mediation, and to consolidate this knowledge through simulating real-world diplomatic negotiations.