Negotiating at the United Nations: A Practitioner's Guide

Description

This book offers a comprehensive practitioner's guide to negotiating at the United Nations. Although much of the content can be applied broadly, the guide focuses on navigating multilateral negotiations at the UN. The book is a tool to help new UN negotiators, explaining basic negotiation concepts and offering insight into the complexities of the UN system. It also offers a playbook for cooperation for negotiators at any level, exploring the dynamics of relationships and alliances, the art of chairing a negotiation, and the importance of balancing the power asymmetries present in any multilateral discussion. The book proposes improvements to the UN negotiation process and looks at the impact of information technologies on negotiation dynamics; it also shares stories from women UN delegates, illustrating what it means to be a female negotiator at the UN. This book is an exploration of the power of the individual in any negotiation, and of the responsibility all negotiators have in wielding that power to speak for a better world. This book will be of much interest to students of diplomacy, global governance, foreign policy, and International Relations, as well as practitioners and policymakers. Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Table of Contents List of illustrations Foreword by Ambassador Tommy Koh Foreword by Christiana Figueres The story behind this book Acknowledgments Introduction Notes PART ONE: Negotiator Tool-Kit 1. Negotiating the hard stuff The difficult negotiation: What trade-offs will you make? Will the parties emerge victorious? Notes 2. Aren’t interests and positions the same thing? Different sets of interests vs. bargaining positions “Ladder of inference” Neutral mindset and being self-aware Conclusion Notes PART TWO: Inside the UN 3. The insider’s guide to the UN negotiation system Key personalities Timeline for decision-making Negotiation history Conclusion Notes 4. Don’t go it alone: Building relationships and alliances Relationships Alliances Networking Groups Conclusion 5. Welcome to negotiations theater: an off-Broadway production Negotiating behind the scenes Negotiating with capital Negotiating at the table Conclusion Notes 6. I call this meeting to order: Chairing UN negotiations Chairing is personal Attributes of a good Chair: process and conduct Steering the process Types of Chairs Potential pitfalls for an intrepid Chair Conclusion Notes 7. Mitigating asymmetric power: The 800-pound gorilla and the fearless ant The march of the ants: the challenges and benefits of being small The perception of the 800-pound gorilla Conclusion Notes PART THREE: Working on It 8. I am a female negotiator: So what? Different treatment: equal, please, not special Proving themselves: women have to work harder Internal barriers: self-doubt and hesitation Views: female negotiators on themselves Gender influence: using all the resources at your disposal Negotiating is hard for everyone, man or woman Summary Notes 9. Please excuse us as we upgrade our process … and software Improving the process Technology and negotiations Summary Notes Conclusion Negotiating the hard stuff (Chapter 1) Aren’t interests and positions the same thing? (Chapter 2) The insider’s guide to the UN negotiation system (Chapter 3) Don’t go it alone: building relationships and alliances (Chapter 4) Welcome to Negotiations Theater: an off-Broadway production (Chapter 5) I call this meeting to order: chairing UN negotiations (Chapter 6) Mitigating asymmetric power: the 800-pound gorilla and the fearless ant (Chapter 7) I am a female negotiator: so what? (Chapter 8) Please excuse us as we upgrade our process and software (Chapter 9) Concluding thoughts Notes References Index