Intergovernmental Negotiations Research Articles

The Newfoundland Provincial Government: Culture, Nationalism, and Identity, 1949-1989

Newfoundland’s post-Confederation cultural revival is a significant factor in how Newfoundlanders were able to maintain their distinct identity within Canada. Another considerably related factor is the role the provincial government played in the decades following Confederation. As F.L. Jackson wrote in 1984, “the conservation of Newfoundland’s cultural heritage is [...] only really possible if there is also a conservation of Newfoundland’s political integrity and autonomy.” During this period, there was an increase in cultural and heritage initiatives, particularly from the Progressive Conservative provincial governments from the mid-1970s onward. This government involvement reflects the earlier developments in the arts scene and within the academic community at Memorial University that came to be known as the cultural revival. The provincial government’s utilization of the cultural revival movement to leverage political support from their citizenry during inter-governmental negotiations with the federal government demonstrates an evolution in the province from a purely cultural nationalism, to a more developed economic and political nationalism by the 1980s.

Mercury pollution in China: implications on the implementation of the Minamata Convention.

Mercury (Hg) is a toxic metal released into the environment through human activities and natural processes. Human activities have profoundly increased the amount of Hg in the atmosphere and altered its global cycling since the Industrial Revolution. Gaseous elemental Hg is the predominant form of Hg in the atmosphere, which can undergo long-range transport and atmospheric deposition into the aquatic systems. Hg deposition elevates the methylmercury (MeHg) level in fish through bioaccumulation and biomagnification, which poses a serious human health risk. Acute poisoning of MeHg can result in Minamata disease, while low-level long-term exposure in pregnant women can reduce the intelligence quotient of infants. After five sessions of intergovernmental negotiation, the Minamata Convention on mercury entered into force in August 2017 to protect human health and the environment from Hg pollution. Currently China contributes the largest quantity of Hg production, consumption, and emission globally. However, the status of Hg pollution in the environment in China and its associated health risk remains relatively unknown, which hinders the development of implementation plans of the Minamata Convention. In this paper, we provide a comprehensive review on the atmospheric release of Hg, distribution of air Hg concentration, human exposure to MeHg and health impacts caused by Hg pollution in China. Ongoing improvement of air pollution control measures is expected to further decrease anthropogenic Hg emissions in China. Air Hg concentrations in China are higher than the background values in the Northern Hemisphere, with spatial distribution largely influenced by anthropogenic emissions. Long-term observations of GEM in China show a decline in recent years. The net Hg transport outflow from China in 2013 is estimated to be 511 t year-1, and ∼60% of such outflow is caused by natural surface Hg emissions. Hg concentrations in fish and rice in China are relatively low and therefore the associated risks of human Hg exposure are low. Future research needs and recommendations for the implementation of the Minamata Convention are also discussed in this paper.

Challenges and Prospects for the Intergovernmental Negotiations to Develop a New Instrument on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness, and Response

As Member States of the World Health Organization (WHO) meet in an International Negotiating Body (INB) to negotiate a legally binding agreement on pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response for submission to the 77th World Health Assembly in May 2024, this column reflects on creative but pragmatic and complementary means that could be employed in the short timeframe allotted for this important global health law negotiation.

Thirty Years on: Planetary Climate Planning and the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee

Thirty Years on: Planetary Climate Planning and the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee

미일 교섭의 개시 - 미일 양해안의 성립과 미 국무부 관료들의 대응 -

In 1940, when France surrendered in Germany and the transition of World War II was greatly changed, the Japanese government tried to contributes to the victory of the German war through the Tripartite Pact, and to establish dominance to the whole East Asian region. The most important challenge for this was the solution of the Sino-Japanese War. Japan tried to keep Japan-China Basic Relations Treaty, and wanted to maintain political and economic dominance in the China continent after the end of the Sino-Japanese War. Meanwhile, the US government cooperated with the British, engaged in European battlefield to respond to the threat of Germany in the Atlantic Ocean, and they established a war plan to defeat Germany. In addition to Germany, the United States was prepared for the attacks of Japan, and established concurrent war performance plans over the Atlantic and Pacific, and shared it with the UK.<BR> Japan-US relationships were deteriorated by Tripartite Pact, a Military Alliance for the purpose of attack America, and America’s selecting the support for China and the strengthening of economic sanctions against Japan. In such a situation, American and Japanese people who have felt a sense of crisis are promoted between the intergovernmental dialogue for the Japan and US, and such efforts made US-Japan appreciation document established and Japan-US negotiations start. The John Doe Associates, a semi-official and a semi-civillian organization wrote US-Japan appreciation document. It shows that Japan will reduce the possibility of attacking US by she interprets Triparite Pack more generously. In order to solve the Sino-Japanese war problem, the US Government will promise to cooperate Japanese government, so she can maintain paramount status in the continental China. Most of the Japanese government officials were satisfied with the document, but the Matsuoka Yosuke Foreign Minister, who thought the Tripartite Pact is critical for Japan’s future, denied this ‘give-and-take’ proposal.<BR> Meanwhile, the bureaucrats in the Division of Far Eastern Affairs, thought that the expansion of Japan

Process analysis of inter-governmental negotiation in delineating permanent prime farmland around cities: The case of Chongqing, China

China’s rapid urbanization in recent decades resulted in substantial farmland loss. The land administration system adopted spatial control policies and quota-based tools to reduce farmland loss, but such actions are insufficient to deal with strong incentives of farmland conversion on urban fringes. The central government initiated the delineation of permanent prime farmland around cities as a remedial measure. Although the existing literature focused on the technical issue of delineation, limited research was conducted on how the top-down delineation policy has be implemented smoothly within a complex intergovernmental delivery network. To fill this gap, we outlined an analytical framework of intergovernmental negotiation for farmland quotas and examined the delineation process in Chongqing. Our findings indicated that central and local departments selectively made compromises and adaptations based on the strategies of their counterpart. The ministry of land and resources insisted on stringent quotas but tolerated certain adjustments in the “one-size-fits-all” policy to suit local conditions. Local bureaus accepted more stringent quotas than expected but chose the most advantageous strategies for local development. The delineated results had no significant impact on short-term urban development but imposed constraints on farmland encroachment in the long term. These findings can provide important implications for land governance in China and highlight the potential impact of the delineation policy.

Commercial Influence on Political Declarations: The Crucial Distinction Between Consultation and Negotiation and the Need for Transparency in Lobbying Comment on "Competing Frames in Global Health Governance: An Analysis of Stakeholder Influence on the Political Declaration on Non-communicable Diseases".

Suzuki and colleagues' rare and elaborate analysis of the political processes behind the 2018 United Nations (UN) non-communicable diseases (NCD) Declaration discloses various pathways towards influencing global public health policies. Their study should be a wake-up call for further scientific political scrutiny and analysis, including clearly distinguishing between consultations such as UN multi-stakeholder hearings preceding high-level meetings and the actual negotiating and decision making process. While stakeholder positions at interactive hearings are documented and published and thus made transparent, the negotiating process among member states is not publicly known. The extent to which intergovernmental negotiations are influenced at country or regional levels by commercial interests through direct and indirect lobbying outside of public consultations should be given more attention. Lobby registers should be implemented more stringently and legislative footprints required and applied not only to legally binding but also to internationally important documents such as political declarations.

Inclusion in Global Environmental Governance: Sustained Access, Engagement and Influence in Decisive Spaces

With increased participation of non-state actors in global governance, the inclusion of vulnerable groups in making sustainability regulations remains a relevant challenge requiring more research. Based on an ethnographic study on creating the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-Sharing of biological resources and knowledge, we advance a new multi-dimensional view of inclusion that integrates sustained access, involvement, and influence in the intergovernmental negotiation meetings. We elaborate the concept of decisive spaces, that is, less accessible settings where diverse actors interact in a deliberative way to co-produce recommendations and solutions to an issue that highly influence the regulatory and governance decisions. We argue that the inclusion of vulnerable actors depends on their continuous access to and involvement in these decisive spaces for creating and implementing transnational regulations. Our findings advance the understanding of inclusion for addressing challenges facing transnational governance of environmental, equity, and social justice issues.

Failing forward in Economic and Monetary Union: explaining weak Eurozone financial support mechanisms

ABSTRACT In this article, we apply the ‘failing forward’ approach to analyse the negotiations on and design of reforms to Eurozone economic governance to tackle the Covid-19-related crisis of Economic and Monetary Union (EMU). This crisis highlights both spill-overs from major asymmetries in EMU and weaknesses in the incomplete economic governance of the Eurozone. We focus on the financial support mechanisms agreed upon after intergovernmental negotiations in major crisis situations. These reforms represent compromise solutions that reflect well-entrenched disagreements among member states. We explain why more far-reaching reforms to Eurozone economic governance – notably, the adoption of mutualized Euro-denominated debt and the generalized use of grants over loans – have not been adopted, despite the severity of the Covid-19-related crisis. These reforms – notably the Next Generation European Union (NGEU) financial package adopted in July 2020 – fail to address and, rather, contribute to existing asymmetries, thus sowing the seeds of future crises.

German Politics and Intergovernmental Negotiations on the Eurozone Budget

This article examines selected political party positions on a Eurozone budget and fiscal transfers between 2018 and 2021. It posits that German government positions on common European debt and fiscal policy have undergone a significant but fragile shift. It must contend with continued domestic hostility before it can be said to be a lasting realignment. A great deal with depend less on the Social Democratic Party that is largely responsible for bringing it about with the support of German Greens, and more on the willingness of the Christian Democratic Union, their Bavarian sister party the Christian Social Union and the German voting public to adopt a more interventionist fiscal policy as well, generating shared commitments to economic policy at home and in Europe. That has not happened yet.

Renegotiating the European Union’s free movement and social security coordination policies: Britain’s approaches and interests

The EU’s freedom of movement has increasingly been brought into question in the last few years as member states have restricted social benefits for EU migrants. Britain proposed in-work benefit restrictions for economically active EU migrants in intergovernmental negotiations leading up to the referendum on its membership to the EU. Access to social benefits is an important component of free movement. It provides EU citizens with social rights in host member states, which promotes internal migration. Restricting free movement threatens European integration because it is a fundamental EU treaty right. This article analyses Britain’s preferences towards the EU’s free movement and social security coordination policies leading up to the Brexit referendum. Britain’s identity, and conceptions of statehood and European.

ВСЕМИРНЫЙ СОВЕТ ЦЕРКВЕЙ (ВСЦ) И РЕАКЦИЯ ЕГО ПРАВОСЛАВНЫХ ЧЛЕНОВ НА ПРОБЛЕМУ ВЬЕТНАМСКОЙ ВОЙНЫ (ПО ДОКУМЕНТАМ ВСЦ)

This study investigates the problem of the Vietnam War. In March 1965, a full-scale interference of the United States (The US) in the military conflict in Vietnam began. It is stressed that the whole world was aghast at the tragedy that took place in Vietnam. It caused numerous discussions not only through the intergovernmental dialogue, but also within religious and interreligious communities. The authors draw attention to the fact that one of the most prominent inter-Christian organizations in the 1960s was the World Council of Churches (WCC), which actually directed the ecumeni-cal movement. At the WCC meetings in 1965-1975, the Vietnam War became one of the most sensitive matters. The latter was also complicated by the fact that the WCC member churches geographically belonged to opposite sides of the ideological confrontation. The Orthodox WCC members also took notice of the mentioned issue. It is especially noted that the Russian Orthodox Church showed the greatest interest in Vietnamese matters, consistently criticizing the role and military intervention of the United States in the conflict and largely shaping the World Council of Churches opinion on the Vietnamese question. A mention should be made that the research was carried out with the financial support of the Russian Foundation for Basic Research within the framework of scientific project №21-011-44111; Acknowledgments: The reported study was funded by RFBR, project number 21-011-44111.

Konsultacije centralnih i lokalnih organa u oblasti finansija u Srbiji

Financial autonomy is of crucial importance for the political automony within the vertical organisation of power. Local level of government seems to be in the most vunerable position, bearing in mind the flexibility of the constitutional framework in this area. The communication between different levels of government is an useful tool in searching for a balans between local needs and needs of public financial sector as a whole. The subject of this paper is the existance of normative and institutional preconditions for integovernmental dialogue between central and local levels of government in the Republic of Serbia. This question had been put into the wider social and political context which include the constitutional position of local self-government, the type of eceltoral system on the both levels as well as the degree of constitutional and political culture in our society. The results of research show that there are normative and institutional preconditions for intergovernmental dialogue in the constitutional system of the Republic of Serbia, but, in reality, there is still much space for developing of a such kind of cooperation.

Regional fisheries management organizations and the new biodiversity agreement: Challenge or opportunity?

AbstractIn 2018, the international community began formal intergovernmental negotiations over a new legally binding instrument for the protection of marine biodiversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction. Protecting marine biodiversity is imperative for a sustainable future, and all the different organizations and agreements will have to work together to achieve this common goal. One of the first key principles to be agreed was to “not undermine” the existing legal instruments or mandates of regional and sectoral marine governance organizations. While fisheries are not being discussed during the negotiations, a marine biodiversity agreement is likely to still impact regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs), due to overlapping areas of interest. This article aims to firstly, assess the potential constraints posed by the commitment to “not undermine”; secondly, consider how aspects of the biodiversity agreement, such as area‐based management and environmental impact assessments, might enhance RFMOs; and thirdly, suggest meaningful ways to ensure cooperation between RFMOs and the marine biodiversity agreement.

Global climate governance in the new era: Potential of business actors and technological innovation

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has established a climate governance mechanism with intergovernmental negotiations among sovereign states as the core. After nearly 30 years, progress in combating climate change has remained very modest compared with the numerous challenges raised. The global climate governance has entered a new era, such that incorporating other factors into the governance process is timely. Therefore, the study emphasizes technological innovation and business actors in climate governance after the Paris Agreement. Technological innovation can provide effective solutions for combating climate change and has been a crucial driving force in climate governance's evolution. Business actors are significant because they are actual implementers of technological innovation and can apply different types of power and influence on climate governance processes at various levels. In summary, business actors, as well as technological innovation in line with governments and the UNFCCC governance frameworks, create a new potential for climate governance in the new era.

A dual-track transition to global carbon pricing

ABSTRACT Unilateral climate policies have been unable to achieve intended emissions reductions. We argue that international harmonization of climate policy beyond the Paris Agreement is the only way forward and that global carbon pricing, either through a tax or market, is the best available instrument to manage this. A foundation has already been laid, as current carbon pricing initiatives cover about 20% of global CO2 emissions. Since it limits free-riding by countries/jurisdictions, global carbon pricing is, in principle, behaviourally easier to negotiate than other instruments, such as emission targets or technical standards. To overcome political resistance, we propose a dynamic strategy consisting of two parallel tracks and five transition phases. The first track entails assembly of a carbon-pricing coalition that expands over time and exerts moral and economic pressure on non-members to join. The second track involves refocusing UN intergovernmental climate change negotiations on carbon pricing, potentially involving initially heterogeneous prices reflecting distinct income levels of countries, which then gradually converge. The dual tracks are designed to reinforce one another, increasing the likelihood of a successful outcome. The proposal results in a transition trajectory consisting of two interactive tracks and five phases, with specific attention to inequity within and among countries. We illustrate how such an approach could function with either a carbon tax or market. Key policy insights International harmonization of climate policies is required to achieve the deep cuts in emissions needed to meet the Paris Agreement’s 2°C or 1.5°C target. A focus on carbon pricing – either through taxation or emissions trading – has multiple strengths: it can be easily compared and harmonized among countries; it can be gradually strengthened over time; it moderates freeriding and fear of competitiveness losses; and it automatically generates revenues to compensate low-income households and countries. Formation of a carbon-pricing coalition would enable such a group to speak with a single, powerful voice at UN climate change conferences. It would put economic and moral pressure on non-members, stimulating them to join and show a constructive attitude in ongoing UN climate change negotiations.

El Consejo de Seguridad de Naciones Unidas y Siria: del descrédito a la renovación

A causa de la guerra en Siria se han multiplicado las llamadas que, desde hace varios años, se levantan pidiendo la reforma del Consejo de Seguridad. Algunos países y algunos dirigentes han comenzado a mostrar un desacuerdo más nítido que hace unas décadas tomando decisiones o haciendo declaraciones que afectan a dimensiones esenciales del mismo. Temas como la representatividad equitativa, el aumento del número de sus miembros o la cuestión del veto son algunos de los que llevan tiempo debatiéndose en ámbitos como el Open Ended Working Group o las Intergovernmental Negotiations. En este artículo presentamos, en una primera parte, una descripción de las propuestas de reforma, intentadas desde hace 25 años hasta el momento, en su afán de mejorar algunos aspectos del Consejo de Seguridad y ofrecemos, en una segunda parte, unas consideraciones finales que se desprenden de lo expuesto.

Technology Transfer for the High Seas: Potential Modalities for Technology Transfer Under the International Legally Binding Instrument

The high seas, also known as areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ), account for 64% of the total surface of the ocean, almost 90% of the ocean’s volume and 40% of the entire planetary surface. This vast environment increasingly bears the stamp of human economic activity, including shipping, fishing and prospecting for seabed resources. At the time time, the interrelated phenomena of climate change and ocean acidification are exerting new pressures on high seas biological diversity and habitats. There is an urgent and growing need to protect this environment. In recognition of these challenges, the UN General Assembly has launched a process to negotiate a new treaty for high seas protection; specifically, an international legally binding instrument (ILBI) for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ). This process, the fruit of more than a decade of informal discussions, entered the intergovernmental negotiation phase in 2018. While much remains unclear about the contours of the emerging deal and its prospects for adoption, the mandate for negotiation identifies an integral role for technology. The four pillars of the planned agreement are marine genetic resources; area-based management tools; environmental impact assessments; and capacity-building and technology transfer. The necessity of greater international cooperation on marine technology transfer has been broadly recognised. The challenge of negotiating technology transfer rules and modalities are particularly great in the context of ocean governance, which has to date seen but limited implementation in this field.

Political alternatives under European economic governance: evidence from German budget speeches (2009–2019)

ABSTRACT Since the early 2010s, budgetary policy-making in EU member states has been subject to tighter European constraints. While recent research shows the relevance of intergovernmental negotiations for setting European policy priorities, little is known about how much political alternation in government still matters for national budgetary agendas. This paper investigates this question in Germany, one of Europe’s most powerful and financially stable countries. Drawing on original data, the paper first shows how political alternation in German cabinets changes governments’ budgetary agendas. Secondly, it shows how this alternation also influences the formulation and adoption of European policy recommendations. Based on these findings, the paper argues that governments in financially stable countries can pursue alternative policy agendas, but that these need to find consensus at both the national and European level. The range of alternatives is therefore inevitably contingent upon the national institutional framework and country’s relative strength within the EU.

The mercury science-policy interface: History, evolution and progress of the Minamata Convention

Mercury (Hg) pollution is an important environmental and public health issue that has garnered significant interest from policy makers and the global regulatory community. Consumption of seafood is the primary mechanism of methyl Hg (MeHg) exposure in humans, globally, and marine fish represent an important linkage between atmospheric dynamics, aquatic biogeochemistry and trophic transfer of this highly neurotoxic and easily assimilated form of Hg. Hg policies and management are highly interdisciplinary and at their foundation are relatively well established scientific principles related to Hg methylation, MeHg cycling and bioaccumulation, and subsequent trophic transfer to humans; however, certain fine-scale aspects of these processes remain poorly understood. After several years of intergovernmental negotiations the Minamata Convention on Mercury (MCM) entered into force in August 2017. Anthropogenic releases (water) and emissions (air) of Hg, human exposure, and environmental health are of considerable importance within the framework and policies outlined in the MCM. Additionally, the overall risk of Hg from artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) is considered a significant source of human exposure and commonly occurs in low and middle income countries, where miners use elemental Hg to extract gold from ore. Here I outline the history, evolution and progress of the MCM as it relates to the science-policy interface and offer a brief synthesis of the state of Hg science in the context of modeling, temporal assessments of Hg trends and global environmental change and ecosystem sensitivity.