International Relations as Negotiation

Negotiations are central to the operation of the international system, found at the heart of every conflict and every act of cooperation. Negotiation is the primary vehicle that states use to manage conflict and build prosperity in a complicated and dangerous international system. International Relations as Negotiation provides an overview of world politics that is both approachable and detailed. It explores the factors that help or undermine efforts to negotiate solutions to international problems. Key topics including international conflict and security, the global economy, international law and governance, and environmental sustainability are explored in turn. The history of the international system is traced through major treaty agreements and peace conferences, and the future of the international system is projected. The result is a survey of world politics that provides a seamless narrative about conflict and cooperation in the international system.

Brian Urlacher is Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of North Dakota. His research focuses on cooperation under difficult circumstances, ranging from examinations of empirical studies of conflict resolution to more theoretical work on the prisoner's dilemma and public goods provision. He earned his PhD from the University of Connecticut in 2007.