PIN Policy Brief on Challenges to Diplomatic Negotiation

As modern technology makes war more costly, negotiations within and outside diplomatic conferences are becoming increasingly important. This new PIN Policy Brief analyses the nature and evolution of diplomatic negotiation and the challenges to its effectiveness. It argues that negotiations are vulnerable, unless they are protected by procedural frameworks, comprising rules and conventions, such as those adopted in conference diplomacy conducted by organisations such as the United Nations.

This policy brief also raises questions about the future role of diplomatic negotiation processes in a globalising world in which diplomats are losing their traditional predominance in international relations. It concludes with several recommendations for enhancing the effectiveness, and thereby the significance, of diplomatic negotiation in the future.