International and Cross-Cultural Negotiation

Here we will guide you to a deeper understanding of cultures by looking at the way they differ along a small number of common dimensions - approaches to risk, to authority, to the individual, to time, etc. We will help you to avoid simplifications - clichés, stereotypes and labels - that are unhelpful and can even be harmful.

In this module we focus your attention on different aspects of communication, both verbal and non-verbal, and show you how cultural differences are important to them. We show you how constructive dialogue in cross-cultural negotiation depends on understanding many differences in behaviour - from variations in etiquette and politeness to the way emotions are expressed, or are hidden.

This module is concerned with maintaining an equilibrium in how much importance we give to culture, to context and to personality during cross-cultural negotiation. It provides you practical advice on how to keep a sensible balance between those elements and also examines different adaptation strategies that you can follow, depending on your familiarity with the other negotiator's culture.

In the final module particular national and regional negotiating styles are examined - French, Chinese, US and Middle Eastern - so as to highlight some of the most pertinent contrasts for international negotiators. In addition multilateral and multicultural negotiation settings are examined - by focusing on European Union institutions, and on the recent COP 21 climate negotiations in Paris.