Simulation of Negotiations: Integrating Science and Diplomacy

Abstract

The Global Studies Institute (University of Geneva) is organizing a simulation seminar in collaboration with the Center for Security Studies (ETH), which aims at providing students from academic backgrounds the opportunity to apply their political and technical knowledge to a case study of international relations. The relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan have been selected as case study.

Objective

Students will participate in a simulation of diplomatic negotiations focusing on the case study of the relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. They will gain insight into international negotiation dynamics and negotiation techniques that integrate political and scientific perspectives. Students will work in interdisciplinary teams and learn to coordinate the political and technical components of the negotiations.

Content

Students will be provided with basic information on a selected issue of international relations. The historical, political and socio-economic dimensions of these relations, including the various treaties and existing agreements and their evolution will be analyzed. Students will participate in an introduction on negotiation techniques, particularly on the negotiation engineering approach. Based on a comprehensive analysis, negotiation scenarios will be developed and subsequently tested during a two-day simulation exercise. Students will collaborate in interdisciplinary teams, consisting of students with backgrounds in international relations as well as in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The detailed technical content will be specified in the process of developing the case study materials. The simulation exercise is intended for Master’s degree students. The course will be taught in English. The project is headed by Prof. Micheline Calmy-Rey and Dr. Martin Dahinden and is part of the teaching of the Global Studies Institute, University of Geneva, which is catering to students with a background in international relations. ETH Zurich encourages all students, and especially those with a background in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, to participate in the seminar sessions via video conferencing.

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