Course description

The course aims to give students a practical experience with the strengths and weaknesses of the mediation process in managing and resolving disputes and conflicts in international relations. All discussed theoretical concepts are subsequently run through group simulations with students taking on particular roles to role play in real-life IR situations. The course introduces basic negotiation and mediation strategies, as well as helps students self-assess the typical propensities toward mediation bias, sunk costs, spoiler dilemma, etc.

Course ILOs

Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

- understand the key role, mechanisms, and dynamics of mediation in the IR context (supported by delivered theory, literature, and cases)
- implement the theoretical approaches in practice (supported by simulations, BATNA evaluations, and mediations strategy choice)
- identify constituency structures and their appropriate involvement in the mediation process (supported by case examination, spoiler handling, and multi-track simulation)
- critique adopted approaches from existing real-world cases (supported by case analysis, as well as simulations based on real environments)
- formulate a mediation strategy for a given IR context (supported by final role simulations in multiple contexts)

Course structure

• 1. Conflict analysis
• 2. Mediation theory
• 3. Pre-negotiation and pre-mediation
• 4. Mediation strategies
• 5. SIMULATION - Security spiral dynamics
• 6. SIMULATION - Commitment and information problems
  
• 7. SIMULATION - Commitment and information problems
• 8. SIMULATION - Mediation micro skills
  
• 9. SIMULATION - Mediation micro skills
• 10. Mediation dynamics and outcomes
• 11. SIMULATION - Constitutiuencies and multi-track mediation
• 12. SIMULATION - Constitutiuencies and multi-track mediation
• 13. SIMULATION - Principle-agent and emotions in mediation
• 14. SIMULATION - Debriefing and evaluation