Conferences §

1. Why are some conferences made permanent?
   • Compare and contrast the advantages of
     • ad-hoc
     • permanent conferences
2. Briefly explain the major challenging procedural issues in multilateral conferences and how these issues are resolved.
   • Venue selection
   • Participation
   • Agenda
   • Discussion formats
   • Decision making method

• What is a conference?
  • Discussion on one issue, or series of related issues
  • Bring all parties who’s agreement is necessary
  • Advertise their anxiety to make them do something about it
  • Informality is encouraged
    • Ad hoc conference: allows concentration because it is created temporarily to deal with one problem

Historical Development of Conferences §

• Chaotic form of conferences first appeared in 17th century in Europe
  • Why: Meetings to resolve challenges and main issues, normally war
  • Without clear rules of procedures, structure
• Began to take its modern form in Early 19th
  • How is the modern form of diplomacy different from ancient ones?
  • Formal organization with rules and structure
• Accelerate in adopting in 20th century
  • Why: because Telecommunication developments

Why international conferences between states became popular §

1. The new norm that “popular consent is the foundation of political authority, inclusion of small states and large states
   • Legitimacy of an agreement relies on agreements from the parties involved
     • Sanctions can’t be enacted alone
   • Affected by the democracy norm
2. Common problem that cannot be solved by one state alone
3. Create common spirit and unity between the world
   • Meetings can revive hostile relations
4. For states to advertise their status and power in deciding the world’s fate
   • Ex: As in the UNSC or the P5
5. Multilateral diplomacy can facilitate bilateral diplomacy, especially for non-talking states
   • Ex: US-North Korea talks in China led to bilateral negotiations later on
6. Effective Enforcement: Better Monitoring and follow-up since the negotiation is displayed publicly -> credibility, save face, expectations
7. Increasing number of actors in international system
8. Better technology of transportation and telecommunication that allows for easier conduct of multilateral diplomacy

Types of Conferences §

• Permanent conferences: International Organization
• Ad-Hoc Conferences: are created for one specific issue which can be solved then dissolved. Is effective because
  • Less fixed structures: no hierarchical power balance
  • More urgent: Ad-hoc meetings have limited time and encourages action
  • Cheaper to manage: Don’t need a permanent headquarter or staff
  • Effective for temporary issues

Controversial issues from ad-hoc conferences §

• Similar to [[Pre-Negotiations#Five Procedural Issues that Need Resolving|Pre-Negotiations#Five Procedural Issues that Need Resolving]]

Venue §

• debate between many countries on location, which can be political, providing some states with benefits
  • Prestige
  • Convenience
• Criteria of a good venue state
  • Sufficient infrastructure
    • Hard: internet, cellular connection, buildings
    • Soft: expertise and experience in hosting
  • Attractive to global public
    • Neutral state: small island nations
    • Proximity to own state
    • Quality of the chair (leader): politics, image, reliability

Participants §

• Too strict criteria could limit legitimacy of your conference/agreement
• Who should you invite?
  • Open to all: may be better

Agenda §

• The ordering of topics or existence of certain topics in the agenda could benefit some, but not other states.
• Should have vague agenda items
• Negative: could be used for bias and politically

Format §

• Public
  • Promote transparency and trust
  • But status use publicity to advertise propaganda, show strength, instead of cooperating
• Private
  • To give concessions without losing face to public
  • Problem: states could veto/object without public backlash
    • Only if private conferences doesn’t work, then use mixed format
• Mixed Format: what is it???

Decision making method §

• Consensus decision making: every member has veto power
  • ASEAN
  • NATO
• Voting:
  • Equal voting power:
    • 50%+1
    • 2/3 Majority
    • 3/4-100%
  • Weighted voting power: NATO
    • What are the criteria for weighting each states vote

References §

1. C11-DTAP-Diplomacy theory and practice By Geoff Berridge