Multilateral Conferences

From the UN Security Council and the European Union's Council of Ministers to obscure committees on food labelling or the scheduling of World Fairs, several thousand multilateral conferences are held each year. Why do governments deploy so much effort in these activities? What goes on behind the scenes at these meetings? How are their outcomes determined and what are the real-world consequences? Ronald A. Walker reveals the inner workings of such conferences, the result-oriented strategies that are pursued behind a façade of formal ritual and their impact on the behaviour of sovereign states.

The book examines the crucial role of multilateral conferences as negotiation fora for creation and advancement of sustainable international relations and that of diplomatic negotiations as means of reaching agreement. It offers a synopsis of the exciting and constantly evolving world of diplomatic negotiations and multilateral conferences with particular emphasis on the United Nations (UN), the World Trade Organizations (WTO) and the European Union (EU).The book questions the suitability of the institutions established in the wake of World War II and their ability to adapt and provide the negotiation mechanisms required to face current globalized world challenges. It pleas for efficient multilateral conferences and successful diplomatic negotiations, arguing that both are feasible by means of adequate application of internationally-established rules, mechanisms, methods and instruments. The book builds on the author's expertise as negotiator and chairman in the UN, the WTO and the EU context. Through practical contents, account and analysis, rich bibliographies consulted and numerous citations, this book aspires to be a worthy contribution to the core literature.It is intended for both specialized and non-specialized audiences, being a reference for professionals - State and non-State actors - engaged in negotiating at multilateral level and involved in international conferences. It is also a useful resource for anyone interested in the current global world affairs and their implications for domestic constituencies.

How can a delegation to a conference get its initiative adopted, or another delegation's proposal rejected? How is a conference delegation composed? What is a permanent mission? What effect can an inefficient conference president have? In which way can secretariats of international organizations influence the results of international conferences? The answers to these questions can be found in Johan Kaufmann's path-breaking Conference Diplomacy , originally published in 1968. Conference Diplomacy will be useful to junior and senior diplomats, and to international civil servants. It has found, and will increasingly find, a place in courses on international relations, on negotiations techniques and in teaching for the diplomatic career.

As the world confronts new and ongoing challenges of globalization, international terrorism and an array of other global issues, the United Nations and its key attribute-multilateral diplomacy-are more important now than ever before. With new and updated essays that detail the experiences of a diverse group of practitioners and scholars who work in the field of diplomacy, this new edition covers in even greater breadth and depth the quintessential characteristics of multilateral diplomacy as it is conducted within the United Nations framework. Multilateral Diplomacy and the United Nations Today provides valuable insights from a variety of perspectives on how diplomacy is practiced, making it essential reading for aspiring diplomats, international business leaders, and students of all levels. The contributors to this volume bring a depth and breadth of knowledge and experience to the examination of five areas of multilateral diplomacy: UN diplomacy, crisis diplomacy, international economic diplomacy, UN summits and "citizen diplomats," and non-governmental diplomacy. A thorough revision: of the 24 chapters, eight are new to this edition, and all the others are updated. Includes a diverse range of contributors: veteran diplomats, respected scholars, non-governmental activists. Relevant, timely discussion topics related to the UN. An important supplemental text to any course on the UN, contemporary international relations, diplomacy, and international organizations.

Inside the United Nations illustrates some of the parameters surrounding consensus-building at the United Nations, seeking to provide new insights beyond what is already known. The author spent twelve years as P.R of Guatemala at the UN, offering him privileged observatories in all three of the main inter-governmental organs: the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council, and the Security Council. In this book Rosenthal focuses on six case studies that offer the breadth and scope of what the UN does, and illustrate some of the main elements of the dynamics of consensus-building, providing concrete examples of the ingredients that shape decision-making in a multilateral setting. The chapters: cover the origin, preparation, and outcome of two successful international conferences: the 2000 Millennium Summit and the 2002 International Conference on Financing for Development; look at the 2000 negotiation on the scale of assessments to finance the UN’s budget in the General Assembly’s fifth committee (2000-2001); focus on the relevance of the Economic and Social Council; consider the internal politics involved in vying for elected posts in intergovernmental bodies by focusing on the campaign to be elected to the Security Council between Guatemala and Venezuela in 2006; reflect on the peculiarities of decision-making in the Security Council. Providing an insider’s view on the UN and exploring different facets of multilateral diplomacy at the UN, this book will be of great use and interest to scholars of international relations as well as the diplomatic community.