Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
14
Representing Negotiation Space
J.H.P. Paelinck
Abstract
The elements of negotiation theory, and relations between them, in short
“negotiation space”, s first investigated from the point of view of some of its
properties. A two-agents case is taken up, both linear and non-linear variants
being studied, and some analytical results with their properties are presented; the
analysis is then generalized to multi-dimensional situations, both in terms of
agents and of issues. Finally one can picture topographically the results of
various negotiation stages; an example is presented.
14.1
Introduction
On the invitation of Walter Isard, we started analyzing conflicts by means of
hypergraph analysis (Paelinck and Vossen
1983
a).
Conflict and negotiation analysis is still being currently studied [see e.g. Varii
auctores (
2012
)].
Formal specifications can give quite more hints at and insights in the workings of
those processes.
In the next section of this paper negotiation space will be explored, space being
defined in the strict mathematical sense of a set structured by a certain number of
relations between its elements (Paelinck
1983b
, pp. 39-52). Moreover, it will be
argued again that concepts of economic analysis are able to play an important role
in bringing to the fore implied properties of such spaces (Paelinck
1996
). A purely
linear case will be explored, after which non-linearities and multiple dimensions are
taken up.
Another representation is more topographical, and concerns the picturing of
various stages of a negotiation process; this aspect is taken up in Sect.
14.3
.
