STV4208B - International Negotiations
Course description
Schedule, syllabus and examination date
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Course content
International negotiations constitute an increasingly important tool for states to manage the complexities and inter-dependencies that follow from a more globalised world. 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 with a particular focus on the relationship between negotiation behaviour, dynamics and outcome. 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
Skills
Students will
- Be able to use basic concepts and perspectives in negotiation theory to analyse historical and contemporary cases of international negotiations
- 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
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
Bachelor's degree in Political Science or equivalent.
Overlapping courses
5 credits overlap with PECOS4110 - International Negotiations/Conflict Resolution
PECOS students can not take STV4208B as the course overlaps with PECOS4110.
Teaching
10 lectures will be given. The lectures are held intensively for a period of 5 weeks, with the exam in the sixth week.
This course will be taught at The University of Oslo, Blindern campus. Other location in Oslo may be used. Fronter will normally be used.
The course is part of the regular course provision at The Faculty of Social Science. Teaching is mainly held during daytime. Detailed course-information is found on the Webpage for the current semester.
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 4000-5000 words including footnotes, excluding references. The number of words must be noted on the title page. The term paper must fall within the tematic scope of the course. The term paper counts 3/4 of the final grade and the oral presentation/exam counts 1/4.
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
It is possible to submit your response in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or 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.