Special Topics in Political Science (390-0-23)
Topic
Negotiations and Conflict Resolution
Instructors
Danielle Aryn Gilbert
Meeting Info
Fisk Hall 114: Mon, Wed 11:00AM - 12:20PM
Overview of class
Negotiation is at the heart of politics. From peace processes, to budget reconciliation, to international treaties on human rights, climate, and trade, high-stakes political negotiations require actors to work through their differences. You, too, are engaged in negotiation any time you need others' cooperation to get what you want. How should people resolve their differences? In this course, students will learn about the theory and practice of negotiation and conflict resolution. Through active learning about the substance and process of negotiating, students will learn how to craft creative solutions with a focus on interests, options, alternatives, relationships, communication, criteria, and commitment. Throughout the course, students will participate in simulation exercises and will be evaluated on their preparation, execution, and reflection from each exercise. We will tackle positional and principled negotiation, hard bargainers, cross-cultural negotiation, and multi-party negotiation. Beyond theory and practice, this course focuses on application: students will explore and assess real-world case studies from international and domestic politics. At the end of the course, students will draw on course lessons to evaluate a real-world political negotiation of their choosing. Success in this course requires active participation, innovative thinking, and the willingness to leave your comfort zone behind.
Registration Requirements
It is recommended that students should have previously taken at least one of the following: Political Science 220, Political Science 240, or Political Science 250
Learning Objectives
By the end of this course, students should be able to: (1) Identify and define key concepts related to negotiation and conflict resolution, including: reservation points, ZOPA, interests, options, BATNA, principal-agent problems, criteria, and credible commitments; (2) Apply the principles of negotiation in practical exercises in positional and principled negotiations, hard bargains, and multi-party negotiations; (3) Assess and reflect on your own negotiation style, strengths, and areas for improvement; (4) Evaluate and critique real-world political negotiations and conflicts.
Teaching Method
Class sessions will alternate between in-class negotiation exercises, lecture, and facilitated discussion.
Evaluation Method
Students will be assessed on their preparation, execution, and reflection on a series of in-class negotiation exercises. Students will also write a final paper.
Class Materials (Required)
Fisher, Roger and William Ury. Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In. New York: Penguin Books, 2011. ISBN: 978-0143118756; Weiss, Jeff. HBR Guide to Negotiating. Boston: Harvard Business School Publishing Corporation, 2016. ISBN: 978-1633690769; Mansbridge, Jane, and Cathie Jo Martin, eds. Political Negotiation: A Handbook. Brookings Institution Press, 2015. ISBN: 978-0815727293