American Negotiating Behavior and the Transformation of U.S. Diplomacy

As U.S. diplomats face an increasingly complex international environment, it is ever more important that the United States review its own negotiating diplomatic skills with the goal of enhancing its capacities to deal with 21^st Century challenges. Distinguished diplomats and foreign affairs specialists discussed American negotiating behavior, the constraints within which U.S. diplomats operate, and the policy and practical changes necessary to increase the effectiveness of America’s diplomats.

This event celebrated the publication of "American Negotiating Behavior: Wheeler-Dealers, Legal Eagles, Bullies, and Preachers," by Richard H. Solomon and coauthor Nigel Quinney. Published by the U.S. Institute of Peace, this landmark study offers a rich and detailed portrait of the negotiating practices of American officials. Including contributions by eleven international experts, it assesses the multiple influences-cultural, institutional, historical, and political-that shape how American Presidents and their diplomats approach negotiations with foreign counterparts and highlights behavioral patterns that transcend the actions of individual negotiators and administrations.

Speakers

Chan Heng Chee
Ambassador of the Republic of Singapore to the United States
Chester A. Crocker
James R. Schlesinger Professor of Strategic Studies, Georgetown University Walsh School of Foreign Service
Stephen J. Hadley
Senior Adviser for International Affairs, United States Institute of Peace
Thomas R. Pickering
Vice Chairman, Hills & Company
Richard H. Solomon
President, United States Institute of Peace
Ruth Whiteside
Director, Foreign Service Institute
Marvin Kalb, Moderator
Visiting expert, U.S. Institute of Peace