363-1050-00L  Simulation of Negotiations: Ukraine

SemesterAutumn Semester 2019
LecturersM. Ambühl, A. Knobel
Periodicityyearly recurring course
Language of instructionEnglish
CommentLimited number of participants.

Students who wish to register for this course have to apply no later than 6 September 2019. Please send your application to Andreas Knobel: Link, additionally register in mystudies. (Technical note for the registration: All registered students will initially be placed on a waiting list)


AbstractThe Global Studies Institute (University of Geneva) is organizing a simulation seminar on the Ukraine in collaboration with MGIMO Moscow and the Chair of Negotiation and Conflict Management (ETHZ).
ObjectiveStudents will have the possibility to participate in simulated diplomatic negotiations and to analyse and assess the negotiation logic behind the situation. During the course, they should gain insight into the negotiations between Ukraine and the international community as well as negotiation techniques in general.
ContentIn the lectures, students will be provided with basic information related to Ukraine. The historical, military, economic and political dimensions, including the various treaties and existing agreements and their evolution will be analyzed. Students will as well participate in an introduction on negotiation techniques, particularly on the negotiation engineering approach. On the basis of the comprehensive analysis, negotiation scenarii will be developed and subsequently tested during a two-day simulation exercise. The simulation exercise will be prepared with the help of experienced negotiators and experts.

The simulation exercise is intended for Masters degree and PhD students. The course will be taught in English. The project is headed by Prof. Micheline Calmy-Rey, Global Studies Institute, University of Geneva.

Students who wish to register for this course have to apply no later than 13 September 2019. Please send your application to Andreas Knobel: Link, additionally register in mystudies. (Technical note for the registration: All registered students will initially be placed on a waiting list)

The homepage for this course with more information is located at (ETH-login needed): Link.

Students from ETH Zurich and MGIMO will participate in the seminar sessions via video conferencing. They will go to Geneva for the session scheduled on 29 October and for the simulation exercise on 28 and 29 November 2019.

Date/Time/Location
GE = University of Geneva;
VC = Video conference (ETH main building: HG D22)

17 September | 10:15-12:00 | 1. Introductory session (VC)
24 September | 10:15-12:00 | 2. History of Ukraine, Russia, EU relations (VC)
1 October | 10:15-12:00 | 3. Contemporary relations between Ukraine, Rjussia and the EU (VC)
8 October | 10:15-12:00 | 4. Interactive dialogue with permanent representatives (VC)
15 October | 10:15-12:00 | 5. Interactive dialogue with permanent representatives (VC)
22 October | 10:15-12:00 | 6. The Minsk Protocol (VC)
29 October | 10:30-17:30 | 7. Special session on the method of diplomatic engineering in the presence of all the students, draw of the teams randomly (GE)
5 November No session (study week)
12 November | 10:15-12:00 |8. The "Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area" (DCFTA) (VC)
19 November | 10:15-12:00 | 9. The Security Aspects (SMM) (VC)
5-6 December | 10:30-17:30 | 10. Negotiation simulation (GE)
Prerequisites / NoticeEvaluation

I. Active participation in class (50%)

1. Attend all seminar sessions either in person or via video conference and actively participate in discussions.
2. Participate in person in the session of 29 October 2019 and in the two-day simulation exercise (28-29 November 2019);
3. Do the required readings and regularly read international newspapers (e.g. Financial Times, The New York Times, The Economist, NZZ).

II. Texts to be submitted before, during and after the simulation (50%)

1. Before the simulation: Prepare a 4-5 page summary of your group's negotiating mandate, including a description of the positions of all the parties (group evaluation).
2. During the simulation: Draft and present an introductory and final statement (group evaluation).
3. After the simulation: Prepare a report on the negotiation outcomes to the organization, state or region you represent (3-4 pages) and a press release (max. 1 page). The report and press release are individually evaluated.