J.P. Singh is Professor of International Commerce and Policy in the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University. Singh has authored five single-authored books, edited five books, and published dozens of scholarly articles. His book Globalized Arts: The Entertainment Economy and Cultural Identity (Columbia, 2011) won the American Political Science Association’s award for best book in information technology and politics in 2012. He has advised international organizations such as UNESCO, the World Bank, and the World Trade Organization, played a leadership role in several professional organizations, and served as Editor from 2006-09 and dramatically increased the impact of Review of Policy Research, the journal specializing in the politics and policy of science and technology. He holds a Ph.D. in Political Economy and Public Policy from the University of Southern California.
International trade has become increasingly important to emerging market economies. Concurrently,... more International trade has become increasingly important to emerging market economies. Concurrently, increasing trade liberalization through the multilateral Doha Round, launched in November 2001, from the World Trade Organization (WTO) has been a failure. The essays in this issue evaluate the role of Brazil, China, and India at the WTO examining in particular their domestic and coalitional constraints, the fairness and justice claims underlying their interests, and the types of identity politics that inform their negotiation positions. These three facets do not make multilateral negotiations easy but they do offer possibilities for future negotiations. Multilateral trade negotiations may not decline but the current era of ‘managed multilateralism’ has become complex balancing great and emerging powers interests.
The demise of the Doha round of trade negotiations is often attributed to deadlocks in agricultur... more The demise of the Doha round of trade negotiations is often attributed to deadlocks in agricultural negotiations between the developed and the developing world. Why has agriculture been so difficult to negotiate? This article explains North-South agricultural negotiations through the lens of coalition politics, especially the shift from bloc to issue-based diplomacy from the developing world. We argue against the proposition in the negotiation literature that multiple coalitions at the international level allow negotiators room to maneuver. Our study shows that bloc coalitions in fact allowed for compromise more than issue-based coalitions in agriculture, which are often
How do the discourses of participation inform deployment of information and communication technol... more How do the discourses of participation inform deployment of information and communication technologies for development (ICT4D)? Discourses here mean narratives that assign roles to actors, and specify causes and outcomes for events. Based on the theory and practice of international development we identify two dimensions to participation and ICT4D: whether participation 1) is hierarchical/top-down or agent-driven/bottom-up, and 2) involves conflict or cooperation. Based on these dimensions we articulate four ideal types of discourse that permeate ICT and development efforts: stakeholder-based discourses that emphasize consensus, networked efforts among actors collaborating in network arrangements, mobilization discourses that account for contestation over meanings of participation, and oppositional discourses from 'grassroots' actors that also include conflict. We conclude that ICT4D efforts, depending on the context of their implementation, are permeated by multiple discourses about participation. Our four ideal types of participation discourses are, therefore, useful starting points to discuss the intricate dynamics of participation in ICT4D projects.
Can developing countries effect outcomes in their favor in negotiations with developed
countries?... more Can developing countries effect outcomes in their favor in negotiations with developed countries? This article shows that as global politics move toward a multi-issuediffusion of power'in which states and other actors interact in a considerably less hierarchical fashion than one characterized by a state-centric security-dominated distribution of power, developing countries are afforded negotiation processes they lacked earlier.
Developed nations strive to create the impression that their hearts and pockets bleed for the dev... more Developed nations strive to create the impression that their hearts and pockets bleed for the developing world. Yet, the global North continues to offer unfavorable trade terms to the global South. Truly fair trade would make reciprocal concessions to developing countries while allowing them to better their own positions. However, five hundred years of colonial racism and post-colonial paternalism have undermined trade negotiations.
While urging developing countries to participate in trade, the North offers empty deals to "partners" that it regards as unequal. Using a mixed-methods approach, J. P. Singh exposes the actual position beneath the North's image of benevolence and empathy: either join in the type of trade that developed countries offer, or be cast aside as obstreperous and unwilling. Singh reveals how the global North ultimately bars developing nations from flourishing. His findings chart a path forward, showing that developing nations can garner favorable concessions by drawing on unique strengths and through collective advocacy. Sweet Talk offers a provocative rethinking of how far our international relations have come and how far we still have to go.
"Singh offers a fascinating explanation for the Global North's failure to offer reciprocal trade concessions to the developing world. Trade negotiations have been imbued with deeply paternalistic, and sometimes racist discourse masquerading as 'fairness.' This riveting analysis shows the pernicious effects that culture clashes can have on the wellbeing of billions."
—B. Peter Rosendorff, New York University
"A seminal book that brings together the political economy of international trade with critical constructivist insight concerning paternalism and racism. Truly a 'bridge-building' exercise in the best of the Cohenite tradition, and a giant leap forward for the emerging postcolonial analyses of international political economy."
—John M. Hobson, University of Sheffield, Author of The Eurocentric Conception of World Politics
"In this provocative new book, J.P. Singh offers a powerful critique of the rules that govern trade, shedding light on neocolonial values that underlie our negotiations and the unequal outcomes that result. Drawing on U.S. government press releases and detailed case studies, this compelling book urges scholars and practitioners to reexamine how cultural beliefs and historical patterns shape interactions among countries."
—Christina L. Davis, Princeton University
"J.P. Singh's blockbuster offers fresh insight into international trade negotiations where those in the developing world--who do not stand up for themselves, eyes open--are sweetly taken to the cleaners. A penetrating, sobering, skillful, alerting work."
—I. William Zartman, Johns Hopkins University, co-author of The Global Power of Talk
Telecommunications restructurings are now seen as important barometers in the shift among develop... more Telecommunications restructurings are now seen as important barometers in the shift among developing countries toward market-based economies. They are often posited as helping developing countries leapfrog, or accelerate their pace of development, and connect with the world economy. This book shows that most states in developing countries are unable to resolve the myriad pressures they face in restructuring important sectors like telecommunications to effect accelerated or leapfrogging development.
Returning to the fundamentals of political science, namely power and governance, this book studie... more Returning to the fundamentals of political science, namely power and governance, this book studies the relationship between information technologies and global politics. Key issue-areas are carefully examined: security (including information warfare and terrorism); global consumption and production; international telecommunications; culture and identity formation; human rights; humanitarian assistance; the environment; and biotechnology. Each demonstrates the validity of the view now prevalent within international relations research-the shifting of power and the locus of authority away from the state. Three major conclusions are offered. First, the nation-state must now confront, support, or coexist with other international actors: non-governmental and intergovernmental organizations; multinational corporations; transnational social movements; and individuals. Second, our understanding of instrumental and structural powers must be reconfigured to account for digital information technologies. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, information technologies are now reconstituting actor identities and issues.
Political scientists by and large ignore cultural industries and technologies whereas they are pr... more Political scientists by and large ignore cultural industries and technologies whereas they are prominent in other disciplines. This book provides insights from local, societal, national, and international levels in understanding cultural industries, technologies, and policies and integrates these perspectives into the study of political science.
This book traces the history of UNESCO from its foundational idealism to its current stature as t... more This book traces the history of UNESCO from its foundational idealism to its current stature as the preeminent international organization for science, education, and culture, building a well rounded understanding of this important organization.
The book: * provides an overview of the organization and its institutional architecture in the context of its humanistic idealism
* details the subsequent challenges UNESCO faced through cold war and power politics, global dependence and interdependence, and the rise of identity and culture in global politics
* analyses the functioning of UNESCO administration, finance, and its various constituencies including the secretariat, member-states, and civil society
* explores the major controversies and issues underlying the initiatives in education, sciences, culture and communication
* examines the current agenda and future challenges through three major issues in UNESCO: Education or All, digital divide issues, and norms on cultural diversity
* assesses the role of UNESCO in making norms in complex world of multiple actors and intersecting issue-areas.
Reflecting on UNESCO’s vision, its everyday practices, and future challenges; this work is an essential resource for students and scholars of international relations and international organizations.
What role do diplomacy and negotiations play in economic globalization? Many argue that great pow... more What role do diplomacy and negotiations play in economic globalization? Many argue that great powers shape diplomacy to their advantage, others that, in a 'flat world', diplomacy helps everyone. Going beyond these polarized views, this book explores the conditions under which negotiations matter and the ways in which diplomacy is evolving in the global commercial arena. J. P. Singh argues that where there is a diffusion or decentralization of power among global actors, diplomacy can be effective in allowing the adjustment of positions so that mutual gains will result. In contrast, when there is a concentration of power, outcomes tend to benefit the strong. There will be little alteration in perception of interest, and coercion by strong powers is common. Singh's book suggests that there are possibilities for transformational problem-solving through multilateral diplomacy. Empirically, the book examines the most important information-age trade issues.
Reviews:
“J. P. Singh offers a portable analytic framework for analyzing negotiations, and makes a persuasive case for the conditions under which the negotiation process itself is likely to have a decisive impact. Scholars and students of global governance will find this systematic, lucid, and thoughtful book to be illuminating and well worth reading. The empirical work is particularly masterful and original.” Susan K. Sell, Professor of Political Science and International Affairs and Director of the Institute for Global and International Studies, George Washington University
“Meticulous analysis and a compelling argument make Negotiation and the Global Information Economy a substantial contribution to our understanding of international negotiations and their role in global governance. The research is comprehensive and the coverage impressive. This is excellent scholarship and sure to become a benchmark in the field.” Rorden Wilkinson, Professor of International Political Economy and Head of the Centre for International Politics, University of Manchester
“J. P. Singh has carried negotiation analysis into the outer space of globalization and IT. This book will not only help us understand possible trajectories through that newly opened space but will help those who navigate it do so in ways that avoid accidents and turn conflicts into positive-sum outcomes.” William Zartman, Professor Emeritus, Johns Hopkins University
"A thorough reexamination of the process of international negotiation is long overdue, and this book, by one of the leading scholars of the global governance of information technology, does much to clarify the terms of debate." Perspectives on Politics, Ian Hall, Griffith University
International trade has become increasingly important to emerging market economies. Concurrently,... more International trade has become increasingly important to emerging market economies. Concurrently, increasing trade liberalization through the multilateral Doha Round, launched in November 2001, from the World Trade Organization (WTO) has been a failure. The essays in this issue evaluate the role of Brazil, China, and India at the WTO examining in particular their domestic and coalitional constraints, the fairness and justice claims underlying their interests, and the types of identity politics that inform their negotiation positions. These three facets do not make multilateral negotiations easy but they do offer possibilities for future negotiations. Multilateral trade negotiations may not decline but the current era of ‘managed multilateralism’ has become complex balancing great and emerging powers interests.
The demise of the Doha round of trade negotiations is often attributed to deadlocks in agricultur... more The demise of the Doha round of trade negotiations is often attributed to deadlocks in agricultural negotiations between the developed and the developing world. Why has agriculture been so difficult to negotiate? This article explains North-South agricultural negotiations through the lens of coalition politics, especially the shift from bloc to issue-based diplomacy from the developing world. We argue against the proposition in the negotiation literature that multiple coalitions at the international level allow negotiators room to maneuver. Our study shows that bloc coalitions in fact allowed for compromise more than issue-based coalitions in agriculture, which are often
How do the discourses of participation inform deployment of information and communication technol... more How do the discourses of participation inform deployment of information and communication technologies for development (ICT4D)? Discourses here mean narratives that assign roles to actors, and specify causes and outcomes for events. Based on the theory and practice of international development we identify two dimensions to participation and ICT4D: whether participation 1) is hierarchical/top-down or agent-driven/bottom-up, and 2) involves conflict or cooperation. Based on these dimensions we articulate four ideal types of discourse that permeate ICT and development efforts: stakeholder-based discourses that emphasize consensus, networked efforts among actors collaborating in network arrangements, mobilization discourses that account for contestation over meanings of participation, and oppositional discourses from 'grassroots' actors that also include conflict. We conclude that ICT4D efforts, depending on the context of their implementation, are permeated by multiple discourses about participation. Our four ideal types of participation discourses are, therefore, useful starting points to discuss the intricate dynamics of participation in ICT4D projects.
Can developing countries effect outcomes in their favor in negotiations with developed
countries?... more Can developing countries effect outcomes in their favor in negotiations with developed countries? This article shows that as global politics move toward a multi-issuediffusion of power'in which states and other actors interact in a considerably less hierarchical fashion than one characterized by a state-centric security-dominated distribution of power, developing countries are afforded negotiation processes they lacked earlier.
Developed nations strive to create the impression that their hearts and pockets bleed for the dev... more Developed nations strive to create the impression that their hearts and pockets bleed for the developing world. Yet, the global North continues to offer unfavorable trade terms to the global South. Truly fair trade would make reciprocal concessions to developing countries while allowing them to better their own positions. However, five hundred years of colonial racism and post-colonial paternalism have undermined trade negotiations.
While urging developing countries to participate in trade, the North offers empty deals to "partners" that it regards as unequal. Using a mixed-methods approach, J. P. Singh exposes the actual position beneath the North's image of benevolence and empathy: either join in the type of trade that developed countries offer, or be cast aside as obstreperous and unwilling. Singh reveals how the global North ultimately bars developing nations from flourishing. His findings chart a path forward, showing that developing nations can garner favorable concessions by drawing on unique strengths and through collective advocacy. Sweet Talk offers a provocative rethinking of how far our international relations have come and how far we still have to go.
"Singh offers a fascinating explanation for the Global North's failure to offer reciprocal trade concessions to the developing world. Trade negotiations have been imbued with deeply paternalistic, and sometimes racist discourse masquerading as 'fairness.' This riveting analysis shows the pernicious effects that culture clashes can have on the wellbeing of billions."
—B. Peter Rosendorff, New York University
"A seminal book that brings together the political economy of international trade with critical constructivist insight concerning paternalism and racism. Truly a 'bridge-building' exercise in the best of the Cohenite tradition, and a giant leap forward for the emerging postcolonial analyses of international political economy."
—John M. Hobson, University of Sheffield, Author of The Eurocentric Conception of World Politics
"In this provocative new book, J.P. Singh offers a powerful critique of the rules that govern trade, shedding light on neocolonial values that underlie our negotiations and the unequal outcomes that result. Drawing on U.S. government press releases and detailed case studies, this compelling book urges scholars and practitioners to reexamine how cultural beliefs and historical patterns shape interactions among countries."
—Christina L. Davis, Princeton University
"J.P. Singh's blockbuster offers fresh insight into international trade negotiations where those in the developing world--who do not stand up for themselves, eyes open--are sweetly taken to the cleaners. A penetrating, sobering, skillful, alerting work."
—I. William Zartman, Johns Hopkins University, co-author of The Global Power of Talk
Telecommunications restructurings are now seen as important barometers in the shift among develop... more Telecommunications restructurings are now seen as important barometers in the shift among developing countries toward market-based economies. They are often posited as helping developing countries leapfrog, or accelerate their pace of development, and connect with the world economy. This book shows that most states in developing countries are unable to resolve the myriad pressures they face in restructuring important sectors like telecommunications to effect accelerated or leapfrogging development.
Returning to the fundamentals of political science, namely power and governance, this book studie... more Returning to the fundamentals of political science, namely power and governance, this book studies the relationship between information technologies and global politics. Key issue-areas are carefully examined: security (including information warfare and terrorism); global consumption and production; international telecommunications; culture and identity formation; human rights; humanitarian assistance; the environment; and biotechnology. Each demonstrates the validity of the view now prevalent within international relations research-the shifting of power and the locus of authority away from the state. Three major conclusions are offered. First, the nation-state must now confront, support, or coexist with other international actors: non-governmental and intergovernmental organizations; multinational corporations; transnational social movements; and individuals. Second, our understanding of instrumental and structural powers must be reconfigured to account for digital information technologies. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, information technologies are now reconstituting actor identities and issues.
Political scientists by and large ignore cultural industries and technologies whereas they are pr... more Political scientists by and large ignore cultural industries and technologies whereas they are prominent in other disciplines. This book provides insights from local, societal, national, and international levels in understanding cultural industries, technologies, and policies and integrates these perspectives into the study of political science.
This book traces the history of UNESCO from its foundational idealism to its current stature as t... more This book traces the history of UNESCO from its foundational idealism to its current stature as the preeminent international organization for science, education, and culture, building a well rounded understanding of this important organization.
The book: * provides an overview of the organization and its institutional architecture in the context of its humanistic idealism
* details the subsequent challenges UNESCO faced through cold war and power politics, global dependence and interdependence, and the rise of identity and culture in global politics
* analyses the functioning of UNESCO administration, finance, and its various constituencies including the secretariat, member-states, and civil society
* explores the major controversies and issues underlying the initiatives in education, sciences, culture and communication
* examines the current agenda and future challenges through three major issues in UNESCO: Education or All, digital divide issues, and norms on cultural diversity
* assesses the role of UNESCO in making norms in complex world of multiple actors and intersecting issue-areas.
Reflecting on UNESCO’s vision, its everyday practices, and future challenges; this work is an essential resource for students and scholars of international relations and international organizations.
What role do diplomacy and negotiations play in economic globalization? Many argue that great pow... more What role do diplomacy and negotiations play in economic globalization? Many argue that great powers shape diplomacy to their advantage, others that, in a 'flat world', diplomacy helps everyone. Going beyond these polarized views, this book explores the conditions under which negotiations matter and the ways in which diplomacy is evolving in the global commercial arena. J. P. Singh argues that where there is a diffusion or decentralization of power among global actors, diplomacy can be effective in allowing the adjustment of positions so that mutual gains will result. In contrast, when there is a concentration of power, outcomes tend to benefit the strong. There will be little alteration in perception of interest, and coercion by strong powers is common. Singh's book suggests that there are possibilities for transformational problem-solving through multilateral diplomacy. Empirically, the book examines the most important information-age trade issues.
Reviews:
“J. P. Singh offers a portable analytic framework for analyzing negotiations, and makes a persuasive case for the conditions under which the negotiation process itself is likely to have a decisive impact. Scholars and students of global governance will find this systematic, lucid, and thoughtful book to be illuminating and well worth reading. The empirical work is particularly masterful and original.” Susan K. Sell, Professor of Political Science and International Affairs and Director of the Institute for Global and International Studies, George Washington University
“Meticulous analysis and a compelling argument make Negotiation and the Global Information Economy a substantial contribution to our understanding of international negotiations and their role in global governance. The research is comprehensive and the coverage impressive. This is excellent scholarship and sure to become a benchmark in the field.” Rorden Wilkinson, Professor of International Political Economy and Head of the Centre for International Politics, University of Manchester
“J. P. Singh has carried negotiation analysis into the outer space of globalization and IT. This book will not only help us understand possible trajectories through that newly opened space but will help those who navigate it do so in ways that avoid accidents and turn conflicts into positive-sum outcomes.” William Zartman, Professor Emeritus, Johns Hopkins University
"A thorough reexamination of the process of international negotiation is long overdue, and this book, by one of the leading scholars of the global governance of information technology, does much to clarify the terms of debate." Perspectives on Politics, Ian Hall, Griffith University
Our interactive world can take a creative product, such as a Hollywood film, Bollywood song, or L... more Our interactive world can take a creative product, such as a Hollywood film, Bollywood song, or Latin American telenovela, and transform it into a source of cultural anxiety. What does this artwork say about the artist or the world she works in? How will these artworks evolve in the global market? Film, music, television, and the performing arts enter the same networks of exchange as other industries, and the anxiety they produce informs a fascinating area of study for art, culture, and global politics.
Focusing on the confrontation between global politics and symbolic creative expression, J. P. Singh shows how, by integrating themselves into international markets, entertainment industries give rise to far-reaching cultural anxieties and politics. With examples from Hollywood, Bollywood, French grand opera, Latin American television, West African music, postcolonial literature, and even the Thai sex trade, Singh cites not only the attempt to address cultural discomfort but also the effort to deny entertainment acts as cultural. He connects creative expression to clashes between national identities, and he details the effect of cultural policies, such as institutional patronage and economic incentives, on the making and incorporation of art into the global market. Ultimately, Singh shows how these issues affect the debates on cultural trade being waged by the World Trade Organization, UNESCO, and the developing world.
The 2005 UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressio... more The 2005 UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions provides an international policy lens for analysing broad debates on issues of cultural globalization and development. The interdisciplinary contributions in this volume offer a fresh understanding of these key issues whilst examining cultural globalization, which is conceived in terms of artistic expressions and entertainment industries and interpreted anthropologically as the rituals, symbols, and practices of everyday life. The broad gamut of theories, methods, and evidence collected by the editors outlines UNESCO's accomplishments, shortcomings, and future policy prospects. This edited collection has a clear message: The Convention is a useful and important instrument in the debate on cultural diversity, but not broad enough or sufficient to confront major challenges concerning human rights, sustainability, and cultural diversity as a whole.
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Papers by J.P. Singh
and justice claims underlying their interests, and the types of identity politics that inform their negotiation positions. These three facets do not make multilateral negotiations easy but they do offer possibilities for future negotiations. Multilateral trade negotiations may not decline but the current era of ‘managed multilateralism’ has become complex balancing great and emerging powers interests.
countries? This article shows that as global politics move toward a multi-issuediffusion of
power'in which states and other actors interact in a considerably less hierarchical fashion
than one characterized by a state-centric security-dominated distribution of power,
developing countries are afforded negotiation processes they lacked earlier.
Books by J.P. Singh
While urging developing countries to participate in trade, the North offers empty deals to "partners" that it regards as unequal. Using a mixed-methods approach, J. P. Singh exposes the actual position beneath the North's image of benevolence and empathy: either join in the type of trade that developed countries offer, or be cast aside as obstreperous and unwilling. Singh reveals how the global North ultimately bars developing nations from flourishing. His findings chart a path forward, showing that developing nations can garner favorable concessions by drawing on unique strengths and through collective advocacy. Sweet Talk offers a provocative rethinking of how far our international relations have come and how far we still have to go.
"Singh offers a fascinating explanation for the Global North's failure to offer reciprocal trade concessions to the developing world. Trade negotiations have been imbued with deeply paternalistic, and sometimes racist discourse masquerading as 'fairness.' This riveting analysis shows the pernicious effects that culture clashes can have on the wellbeing of billions."
—B. Peter Rosendorff, New York University
"A seminal book that brings together the political economy of international trade with critical constructivist insight concerning paternalism and racism. Truly a 'bridge-building' exercise in the best of the Cohenite tradition, and a giant leap forward for the emerging postcolonial analyses of international political economy."
—John M. Hobson, University of Sheffield, Author of The Eurocentric Conception of World Politics
"In this provocative new book, J.P. Singh offers a powerful critique of the rules that govern trade, shedding light on neocolonial values that underlie our negotiations and the unequal outcomes that result. Drawing on U.S. government press releases and detailed case studies, this compelling book urges scholars and practitioners to reexamine how cultural beliefs and historical patterns shape interactions among countries."
—Christina L. Davis, Princeton University
"J.P. Singh's blockbuster offers fresh insight into international trade negotiations where those in the developing world--who do not stand up for themselves, eyes open--are sweetly taken to the cleaners. A penetrating, sobering, skillful, alerting work."
—I. William Zartman, Johns Hopkins University, co-author of The Global Power of Talk
The book:
* provides an overview of the organization and its institutional architecture in the context of its humanistic idealism
* details the subsequent challenges UNESCO faced through cold war and power politics, global dependence and interdependence, and the rise of identity and culture in global politics
* analyses the functioning of UNESCO administration, finance, and its various constituencies including the secretariat, member-states, and civil society
* explores the major controversies and issues underlying the initiatives in education, sciences, culture and communication
* examines the current agenda and future challenges through three major issues in UNESCO: Education or All, digital divide issues, and norms on cultural diversity
* assesses the role of UNESCO in making norms in complex world of multiple actors and intersecting issue-areas.
Reflecting on UNESCO’s vision, its everyday practices, and future challenges; this work is an essential resource for students and scholars of international relations and international organizations.
Reviews:
“J. P. Singh offers a portable analytic framework for analyzing negotiations, and makes a persuasive case for the conditions under which the negotiation process itself is likely to have a decisive impact. Scholars and students of global governance will find this systematic, lucid, and thoughtful book to be illuminating and well worth reading. The empirical work is particularly masterful and original.”
Susan K. Sell, Professor of Political Science and International Affairs and Director of the Institute for Global and International Studies, George Washington University
“Meticulous analysis and a compelling argument make Negotiation and the Global Information Economy a substantial contribution to our understanding of international negotiations and their role in global governance. The research is comprehensive and the coverage impressive. This is excellent scholarship and sure to become a benchmark in the field.”
Rorden Wilkinson, Professor of International Political Economy and Head of the Centre for International Politics, University of Manchester
“J. P. Singh has carried negotiation analysis into the outer space of globalization and IT. This book will not only help us understand possible trajectories through that newly opened space but will help those who navigate it do so in ways that avoid accidents and turn conflicts into positive-sum outcomes.”
William Zartman, Professor Emeritus, Johns Hopkins University
"A thorough reexamination of the process of international negotiation is long overdue, and this book, by one of the leading scholars of the global governance of information technology, does much to clarify the terms of debate."
Perspectives on Politics, Ian Hall, Griffith University
and justice claims underlying their interests, and the types of identity politics that inform their negotiation positions. These three facets do not make multilateral negotiations easy but they do offer possibilities for future negotiations. Multilateral trade negotiations may not decline but the current era of ‘managed multilateralism’ has become complex balancing great and emerging powers interests.
countries? This article shows that as global politics move toward a multi-issuediffusion of
power'in which states and other actors interact in a considerably less hierarchical fashion
than one characterized by a state-centric security-dominated distribution of power,
developing countries are afforded negotiation processes they lacked earlier.
While urging developing countries to participate in trade, the North offers empty deals to "partners" that it regards as unequal. Using a mixed-methods approach, J. P. Singh exposes the actual position beneath the North's image of benevolence and empathy: either join in the type of trade that developed countries offer, or be cast aside as obstreperous and unwilling. Singh reveals how the global North ultimately bars developing nations from flourishing. His findings chart a path forward, showing that developing nations can garner favorable concessions by drawing on unique strengths and through collective advocacy. Sweet Talk offers a provocative rethinking of how far our international relations have come and how far we still have to go.
"Singh offers a fascinating explanation for the Global North's failure to offer reciprocal trade concessions to the developing world. Trade negotiations have been imbued with deeply paternalistic, and sometimes racist discourse masquerading as 'fairness.' This riveting analysis shows the pernicious effects that culture clashes can have on the wellbeing of billions."
—B. Peter Rosendorff, New York University
"A seminal book that brings together the political economy of international trade with critical constructivist insight concerning paternalism and racism. Truly a 'bridge-building' exercise in the best of the Cohenite tradition, and a giant leap forward for the emerging postcolonial analyses of international political economy."
—John M. Hobson, University of Sheffield, Author of The Eurocentric Conception of World Politics
"In this provocative new book, J.P. Singh offers a powerful critique of the rules that govern trade, shedding light on neocolonial values that underlie our negotiations and the unequal outcomes that result. Drawing on U.S. government press releases and detailed case studies, this compelling book urges scholars and practitioners to reexamine how cultural beliefs and historical patterns shape interactions among countries."
—Christina L. Davis, Princeton University
"J.P. Singh's blockbuster offers fresh insight into international trade negotiations where those in the developing world--who do not stand up for themselves, eyes open--are sweetly taken to the cleaners. A penetrating, sobering, skillful, alerting work."
—I. William Zartman, Johns Hopkins University, co-author of The Global Power of Talk
The book:
* provides an overview of the organization and its institutional architecture in the context of its humanistic idealism
* details the subsequent challenges UNESCO faced through cold war and power politics, global dependence and interdependence, and the rise of identity and culture in global politics
* analyses the functioning of UNESCO administration, finance, and its various constituencies including the secretariat, member-states, and civil society
* explores the major controversies and issues underlying the initiatives in education, sciences, culture and communication
* examines the current agenda and future challenges through three major issues in UNESCO: Education or All, digital divide issues, and norms on cultural diversity
* assesses the role of UNESCO in making norms in complex world of multiple actors and intersecting issue-areas.
Reflecting on UNESCO’s vision, its everyday practices, and future challenges; this work is an essential resource for students and scholars of international relations and international organizations.
Reviews:
“J. P. Singh offers a portable analytic framework for analyzing negotiations, and makes a persuasive case for the conditions under which the negotiation process itself is likely to have a decisive impact. Scholars and students of global governance will find this systematic, lucid, and thoughtful book to be illuminating and well worth reading. The empirical work is particularly masterful and original.”
Susan K. Sell, Professor of Political Science and International Affairs and Director of the Institute for Global and International Studies, George Washington University
“Meticulous analysis and a compelling argument make Negotiation and the Global Information Economy a substantial contribution to our understanding of international negotiations and their role in global governance. The research is comprehensive and the coverage impressive. This is excellent scholarship and sure to become a benchmark in the field.”
Rorden Wilkinson, Professor of International Political Economy and Head of the Centre for International Politics, University of Manchester
“J. P. Singh has carried negotiation analysis into the outer space of globalization and IT. This book will not only help us understand possible trajectories through that newly opened space but will help those who navigate it do so in ways that avoid accidents and turn conflicts into positive-sum outcomes.”
William Zartman, Professor Emeritus, Johns Hopkins University
"A thorough reexamination of the process of international negotiation is long overdue, and this book, by one of the leading scholars of the global governance of information technology, does much to clarify the terms of debate."
Perspectives on Politics, Ian Hall, Griffith University
Focusing on the confrontation between global politics and symbolic creative expression, J. P. Singh shows how, by integrating themselves into international markets, entertainment industries give rise to far-reaching cultural anxieties and politics. With examples from Hollywood, Bollywood, French grand opera, Latin American television, West African music, postcolonial literature, and even the Thai sex trade, Singh cites not only the attempt to address cultural discomfort but also the effort to deny entertainment acts as cultural. He connects creative expression to clashes between national identities, and he details the effect of cultural policies, such as institutional patronage and economic incentives, on the making and incorporation of art into the global market. Ultimately, Singh shows how these issues affect the debates on cultural trade being waged by the World Trade Organization, UNESCO, and the developing world.