International Negotiation and Good Governance: A Researcher-Practitioners Perspective

This book investigates two critical political science domains: international negotiation processes and the establishment of good governance practices, using real-world examples. The author’s observations, analyses, and recommendations provide a unique blend of researcher and practitioner experiences that were implemented in conjunction with government authorities, businesses, the media, and citizen groups in over 40 countries.

The book examines negotiation process dynamics from several perspectives: the inclusion of new actors; the impact of psychology, creativity, and values; the significance of post-agreement negotiations; and how negotiations that resolve civil wars need to incorporate explicit good governance provisions. From the governance perspective, the book analyzes the age-old problem of corruption, which is often a major factor responsible for bad governance practices, economic dysfunction, and widespread poverty. It explores the importance of strengthening citizen advocacy for reforms, designing and implementing anti-corruption strategies for fragile states, customizing anti-corruption strategies through targeted risk assessments, and deconstructing the negotiation give-and-take in corrupt transactions to reduce their impact. Each chapter incorporates the author’s practitioner experiences with his research contributions, along with examples of events he experienced when implementing programs around the world.

This unique volume will be used in university courses on international negotiation, conflict resolution, governance practices, international development, and comparative politics, as well as providing a useful resource for researchers, policymakers, practitioners, NGOs, donor organizations, and grant-giving organizations.

Bertram I. Spector has more than 45 years of experience in conducting and directing research, training, and technical assistance programs internationally, specializing in the international negotiation and anti-corruption fields. He has been the editor in chief of an international peer-reviewed academic journal, International Negotiation: A Journal of Theory and Practice, since its inception in 1996. He is the author of The Dynamics of International Negotiation: Essays on Theory and Practice (2023), Curbing Corruption: Practical Strategies for Sustainable Change (2022), and Negotiating Peace and Confronting Corruption: Challenges for Post-Conflict Societies (2011) and coeditor of Getting It Done: Post-Agreement Negotiation and International Regimes (2003), among many other edited books, book chapters, and journal articles.