This thesis investigates how the process of coming to an EU negotiating position for the conferences of the parties (COPs) of the UNFCCC changed between 1997 and 2015. The EU preparations for three...Show moreThis thesis investigates how the process of coming to an EU negotiating position for the conferences of the parties (COPs) of the UNFCCC changed between 1997 and 2015. The EU preparations for three of these climate conferences (Kyoto, Copenhagen, and Paris) are analysed through the content analysis of EU documents and expert interviews. This thesis argues that this negotiating process became increasingly embedded in the theoretical framework of multi-level governance. Treaty changes, shifts on the global stage of negotiations and the addition of new member states caused the European level (mainly the Commission) to play a leading role in the intra-European negotiations.Show less
On April 27th of 2017, Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Russia’s president Vladimir Putin met once again in Russia to discuss bilateral cooperation and the dispute surrounding the Northern...Show moreOn April 27th of 2017, Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Russia’s president Vladimir Putin met once again in Russia to discuss bilateral cooperation and the dispute surrounding the Northern Territories. Japan and Russia have been in conflict over the four southernmost islands of the Kuril Island archipelago ever since they were handed over to the Soviet Union at the end of World War II. While for many years the bilateral trade between Japan and Russia was stagnating, ever since the summit in Vladivostok in 2012, there has been an eastward shift of the Russian economy. In May 2016 Abe announced that they were taking a new approach in the negotiations. While many believe it to be disappointing, it can be argued that it is a long term negotiation tactic, which focuses on economic cooperation. Through analyzing the Japan Russia summits it can be seen that they have shifted from a positional bargaining strategy to a principled bargaining strategy, and how it gives a good possibility in solving the dispute.Show less
By employing Latin –American strands of dependency theory – complemented by World Systems Theory and a neoliberal view on trade policies – the minutes of the PTPA negotiations are analysed. The...Show moreBy employing Latin –American strands of dependency theory – complemented by World Systems Theory and a neoliberal view on trade policies – the minutes of the PTPA negotiations are analysed. The negotiations were held in 2004 and 2005 between the U.S. and the Andean countries. This resarch focuses on Peru and an attempt is made to assess whether and to what extent the Peruvian government succeeded in balancing the demands of the U.S. government with those of Peruvian civil society and the Peruvian government’s desire to enter into a trade agreement with the U.S.. From examining Peruvian government reports on the agriculture, labour matters and textiles tables it was found that the government at times found its Andean partners to be delaying the negotiations and rather continued bilaterally. Furthermore, evidence was found that the Peruvian government, at least on paper, attempted to represent the interests of the large majority of the Peruvians. To what extent it has succeeded in doing so has been difficult to assess given that the present research is largely based on official government documents. Further research, employing non-governmental Peruvian sources and (official) U.S. documentation on the negotiations, is needed to come to a fuller understanding of the starting positions of both governments and how much each party had given in to the demands of the other.Show less
