As international negotiations proliferate, so too does the need to understand their context, structure and process. This book provides a useful account of the myriad challenges facing negotiators today, addressing the changes in technology, actors and agendas. . . .The book’s value is in its easily accessible approach to explaining negotiations using a range of real-world examples. The authors aim not only to explain the processes, but also to provide a tool in the teaching and practice of negotiations. . . .The book is therefore of interest to those teaching and learning about the complexities involved in the ‘give-and-take’ processes of international negotiations.

South African Journal of International Affairs

This excellent text introduces students to the basic concepts, structures, processes, and outcomes involved in international negotiations in the complex global environment in which we live. The authors do an excellent job of presenting the basic components of international negotiation theory in a clear and engaging fashion, while also drawing on the latest scholarly research in a user-friendly manner. One comes away recognizing that negotiated agreements require a mutual ability to forego the optimal for mutually satisfactory terms that meet the fundamental needs and interests of all negotiating parties. Therefore, compromise and creative invention of mutually beneficial formulas that transcend conflicting interests are required in order to achieve joint benefits; achieving these outcomes requires patience, creativity, and a lot of hard work. This text is thus of value for both students approaching the subject for the first time as well as for experienced practitioners who may gain new insights into strategies for negotiating better, fairer, and more durable international agreements on some of the most complex but important issues of our time.

P. Terrence Hopmann, Johns Hopkins University

By adopting a gameboard analogy and drawing on a wide range of recent case examples woven throughout the text, International Negotiation in a Complex World provides an approachable yet rich coverage of negotiation processes. The authors present a clear structural framework for discussing negotiations, incorporating a broad range of applicable literature. This text would fit very well into classes covering negotiation topics ranging from the environment and development to conflict and post-conflict issues.

Carolyn Shaw, Wichita State University

A welcome addition to the large and growing literature on negotiation. The authors have had a long association with the International Communication and Negotiation Simulation Project (ICONS) at the University of Maryland, and a strong desire to develop an approach to the study of negotiation that is based on simulation exercises, utilizing sophisticated network techniques. Their short book is both substantially rich and a valuable tool for students and policy makers alike.

International Affairs

Starkey, Boyer, and Wilkenfeld update their textbook and tutorial to incorporate new events and new developments in continuing conflicts during the five years since the first edition. Their approach does not pivot on the case studies, however, but on concepts in negotiation: the board, the players, the stakes, the moves, and outcomes.

Reference and Research Book News

Unique . . . is the emphasis placed on simulations and 'virtual diplomacy,' including the listing of myriad web sites devoted to negotiation. A well-designed book with many references to contemporary examples of negotiation, it is more appropriate to the beginner than the expert. The bibliography is quite good.

Choice Reviews