PECOS4110 - International Negotiations/Conflict Resolution
Course description
Schedule, syllabus and examination date
Choose semester
Course content
International negotiations constitute an increasingly important tool for states to manage interdependence relationships and to prevent or end violent conflict. States regularly engage in negotiations to resolve conflicts and develop international cooperation.
This course gives you an introduction to some of the key mechanisms that characterise international negotiations.
We focus on the relationship between negotiation behaviour, dynamics and outcome, and address key approaches to deal with post-conflict challenges. In addition to theoretical knowledge, the course gives insight into the practice of international negotiations in a one-day simulation exercise where students have the opportunity to play the role of a negotiator.
Learning outcome
Knowledge
Students will
- Learn key concepts and perspectives in negotiation theory
- Understand how negotiation parties reason when they decide whether to negotiate or not and when they decide strategies and tactics in the negotiations process
- Be able to describe different types of negotiation dynamics
- Be familiar with key determinants of individual and collective gains in the outcome of negotiations…
- … and how they are linked to negotiation parties’ choice of strategies and tactics
- Know how to assess negotiation outcomes and be able to identify main causes of negotiation success and failure
- Be familiar with key approaches for dealing with post-conflict challenges
Skills
Students will
- Be able to use basic concepts and perspectives in negotiation theory to analyse historical and contemporary cases of international negotiations and post-conflict situations
- Develop both written and oral presentation skills
Competences
Students will acquire
- a general understanding of the challenges and opportunities associated with this important mode of conflict resolution
- a deeper understanding of the mechanisms that often lead to negotiation failure and the conditions under which negotiations are most likely to succeed.
Admission
This course is open to excange students who are on the master's leve. Students admitted to other Master programmes may be qualified to apply for the course. Please see the webpage on Admission to single master's courses.
For incoming students: All Master's courses in Political Science must be registered manually by the Department, they will not appear in Studentweb. Contact your international coordinator at UiO.
Prerequisites
Formal prerequisite knowledge
Bachelor's degree in Political Science or equivalent.
Recommended previous knowledge
Knowledge of research methods.
Overlapping courses
5 credits overlap with STV4208B - International Negotiations
Students who has taken an exam in STV4208B can not take PECOS4110 as these two courses overlaps.
Teaching
Lectures.
The lectures are not compulsory but we advise you to follow them.
A seminar, and a simulation exercise which are mandatory.
The purpose of the seminar is to gain knowledge of historical and ongoing peace negotiations through meeting people who have first-hand experience of such negotiations. The purpose of the simulation exercise is to give participants an opportunity to try out models and theories from the course in an imaginary conflict situation. The students will work together in small groups.
Access to teaching
A student who has completed compulsory instruction and coursework and has had these approved, is not entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework. A student who has been admitted to a course, but who has not completed compulsory instruction and coursework or had these approved, is entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework, depending on available capacity.
Examination
The exam consists of an oral exam and a term paper. The oral exam counts for 25% of the total grade, the term paper for the remaining 75%.
The oral exam is linked to the one-day simulation exercise. You will be asked to give an oral presentation of which tactics and strategies you planned to use in the negotiation game, how these tactics and strategies were carried out in the negotiations, and the extent to which you think they were successful for achieving your goals in the negotiated outcome.
You will be asked to link your presentation of tactics, strategies and outcome in the simulation exercise to the literature on the curriculum and you may also be asked additional questions to the curriculum after your oral presentation. For the presentation, you have 15 minutes at your disposal and you are free to use Power Point, blackboard or whiteboard.
In the term paper you are free to choose your own research question, but it must reflect the curriculum of the course. If you are uncertain that your chosen research question satisfies this requirement, you must contact the course leader to acquire acceptance for the chosen research question. The term paper should be maximum 15 pages including footnotes and references.
In order to pass the course, your performance in the oral exam and the term paper must both satisfy the minimal requirements. Moreover, your term paper and oral exam must be passed in the same semester the course is taught.
Language of examination
The examination text is given in English, and you submit your response in English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.
Explanations and appeals
- Explanation of grades - deadline and processing time
- Appeal about grades
- Complaint about formal exam errors
Ask for explanation of your grade in this course
Resit an examination
Withdrawal from an examination
If you wish to withdraw from the exam you must do so in StudentWeb at least two weeks prior to the deadline. Failure to do so will be counted as one of the three opportunities to sit the exam.
Special examination arrangements
If you have a disability or a health problem that entails significant inconvenience in an examination situation, you may be considered for special examination arrangements. Mothers who are breastfeeding may apply for extra time to complete the exam.