Graduate School of International Studies
Korea University
Seoul, Republic of Korea
Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
New York University
The workshop is intended to give students a complete overview of the workings of the international public sector and a grounding in the use of conflict resolution and mediation in that context. Over two weeks, the seminar will use a mixture of lecture/discussion, teleconferencing and exercise/simulation modes to explore the issues and will conclude with a simulated negotiation on a major international issue.
This web page has been set up for the workshop. On it, students can find readings (for reading on-line or downloading) as well as references to other documents. Studnts should have familiarized themselves with the content prior to the beginning of the course.
The schedule for the workshop is as follows:
I1. What is the international public sector and how does it fit with international reions theory
| Day/date | Hour(s) | Session/Subject | Professor |
| Monday, 29.6 | 9-9:30 am | Introduction to Workshop | Mathiason |
| 9:30-12 | I1. What is the international public sector and how does it fit with international relations theory Current theories of international relations as they apply to international organizations including realism and neo-realism, functionalism, regime theory, new institutionalism and global governance. It will provide a brief analytical introduction to the structure of the United Nations system. |
Mathiason | |
| 1:30-4:30 | I2. What does globalization mean? The session will examine the new areas in which international public action is becoming necessary and discuss the relative roles of the market, the State and the supra-state in dealing with them. |
Mathiason | |
| Tuesday, 30.6 | 9-12:00 | I3. Functions of the international public sector: regime creation Process of reaching international agreements, the role of the Secretariat, member states and civil society. Cases of the negotiation of the global climate change convention, the Beijing Declaration and Platform of Action Introduction to the Simulation |
Mathiason |
| 1:30-4:30 | I4. Functions of the international public sector: (International Public Investment) Introduction to the evolving area of development assistance in terms of institutional mechanisms. It will contrast the work of the World Bank with that of UNDP. |
Mathiason | |
| Wednesday, 1.7 | 9-12:00 | I5. Functions of the international public sector (Norm enforcement). Implementation of international human rights and global commons treaties, including the role of information in monitoring them. Cases will include the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the Convention on the Law of the Sea and the GATT Treaty. |
Mathiason |
| 1:30-2:30 | S1.Introduction to the simulation | Mathiason | |
| 2:30-4:30 | S2. Simulation - first round | Mathiason | |
| Thursday, 2.7 | 9-12:00 | N1. Principles of negotiation - Part I Debrief 1st round of simulation "Durians" exercise Principles of Negotiation |
Zerkin |
| 1:30-4:30 | N2. Principles of negotiation continued Multi-party negotiation and consensus building; use of single text Second negotiation exercise |
Zerkin | |
| Friday, 3.7 | 9-12 | S3. Simulation - second round (Assignment - journal entries - due Monday) |
Zerkin/Mathiason |
| 1:30-4:30 | Korean guest lecturer | TBA | |
| Monday, 6.7 | 9-12:00 | N3. Conflict analysis for large multi-party disputes Overcoming the barriers to negotiated resolution of conflict: The use of third-party processes, including mediation and facilitation Multi-culturalism, benefits of diversity Cross-cultural and gender differences in negotiation and conflict resolution Dealing with diversity and cultural differences in the international
workplace |
Zerkin |
| 1:30-3:00 | N4. Cross-cultural negotiation exercise | Zerkin | |
| 3:00-4:30 | S4. Simulation - third round | Zerkin/Mathiason | |
| Tuesday, 7.7 | 9-12:00 | S5. Simulation - final round | Zerkin/Mathiason |
| 1:30-2:30 | S6. Simulation debriefing | Zerkin | |
| 2:30-4:30 | I6. Functions of the international public sector: (Development Assistance) | Mathiason | |
| Wednesday, 8.7 | 9-12:00 | N5. Conflict management Origins and roots of conflict, conflict dynamics "Gain As Much As You Can" exercise Conflict escalation cycles Organization conflict management |
Zerkin |
| 1:30-4:30 | Guest lecturer from Korea | TBA | |
| Thursday, 9.7 | 8-10 | Teleconference with Nafis Sadik, Executive Director, United Nations Population Fund | Smith/Mathiason |
| 10-12:00 | Follow-up to teleconference | Mathiason | |
| 1:30-4:30 | I7. Functions of the international public sector: Peacekeeping and humanitarian assistance. Provision of good offices and mediation by the UN system, and the management of peacekeeping missions. It will look at UN work in the area of refugees and displaced persons. |
Mathiason | |
| Friday, 10.7 | 8-10 | Teleconference with Sergio Vieira de Mello, Executive Coordinator for Disaster Relief, United Nations | Mathiason/Smith |
| 10-12 | I7. Functions of the international public sector: Peacekeeping and humanitarian assistance. Follow-up to teleconference |
Mathiason | |
| 1:30-3:30 | I8. The future of the international public sector | Mathiason | |
| 3:30-4:30 | Evaluation of results, discussion and conclusion of the workshop | Mathiason |
Simulated Negotiation
The workshop will include a simulated multilateral negotiation, allowing students to make use of the key material of the workshop. The purpose of the negotiation is to agree on a resolution that will determine next steps in the implementation of the International Convention on Migrant Workers and their Families.
The issue of migrant labor is becoming more acute as a result of economic globalization and different levels of decision-making. The international human rights treaty was agreed to in 1990 but has only been ratified or acceded to by nine States and has not entered into force. None of the signatories or States party are States that receive migrant workers. The question, then, is what to do with the treaty. Should the treaty be modified? Should it be renegotiated in its entirety to make it more acceptable to sending and receiving States? Or is it merely a matter of encouraging ratifications?
The students will be divided into teams, each team representing a State, international organization or a non-governmental organization. They will work in five groups: sending States, receiving industrialized States, receiving States who are members of the Group of 77 developing countries, international organizations, and civil society. These groups will negotiate with each other to agree on the text of a resolution resolving the issue of what to do with the International Convention. To do this, they will build on the resolution adopted by the General Assembly at its fifty-second session on implementation of the Convention.
The groups will consist of the following:
Sending States |
Receiving Industrialized States |
Receiving States of the Group of 77 |
International organizations |
Civil Society |
| Philippines | United States | Kuwait | UN Centre for Human Rights | Amnesty International |
| Pakistan | Italy | South Africa | United Nations Division for the Advancement of Women | International Confederation of Free Trade Unions |
| Sri Lanka | Japan | Argentina | UNICEF | International Council of Chambers of Commerce |
| Mexico | Germany | Singapore | United Nations Fund for Population Activities | International Organization for Migration |
| Morocco | France | Saudi Arabia | International Labour Organization | International Women's Rights Action Watch |