Justice in International Negotiation Training

The notion of justice is a vital element in international negotiation training especially if the participants are from the political and diplomatic realms. This is the case not only because trainees need to be aware of existing judicial organizations, but foremost, because of the role that fairness plays in helping negotiation processes develop and conclude agreements that are then implemented successfully. Unfair outcomes are normally ineffective. This article highlights the role of justice in a training environment of growing complexity. It deals with simple bilateral exercises, as well as negotiations that involve constituencies and mediators, multiparty bargaining situations, and complex multilateral diplomatic conferences. Justice in the training environment touches upon issues like positions and interests, power and influence, strategy and tactics, skills and styles, culture and emotions, and above all, on actors and processes in the context of politics, diplomacy and history.