<p>An elementary precondition for the EU Member States to act coherently in the field of foreign policy is to reach a common standpoint on particular issues of the CFSP. Due to the intergovernmental character of decision-making in the sphere of the CFSP, the Member States reach a common position primarily through negotiations. In this regard the thesis focuses on an analysis of the EC/U Member States negotiations about two politically highly controversial foreign policy issues – the Yugoslav recognition crisis of 1991 and the Iraqi crisis of 2002/2003.</p><p>Developing a theoretical model of analysis based on merging Moravcsik’s liberal intergovernmentalism and negotiation analysis the author seeks to examine and explain the outcomes of these negotiations, while emphasising the necessity to view negotiation as a process throughout which a variation in certain factors can occur and hence influence the outcomes of negotiation in a decisive way.</p>

Current research in multi-agent systems (MAS) has advanced to the development of open MAS, which are characterized by the heterogeneity of agents, free exit/entry and decentralized control. Conflicts of interest among agents are inevitable, and hence automated negotiation to resolve them is one of the promising solutions. This thesis studies three modifications on alternating-offer bargaining protocols for automated negotiation in open MAS. The long-term goal of this research is to design negotiation protocols which can be easily used by intelligent agents in accommodating their need in resolving their conflicts. In particular, we propose three modifications: allowing non-monotonic offers during the bargaining (non-monotonic-offers bargaining protocol), allowing strategic delay (delay-based bargaining protocol), and allowing strategic ignorance to augment argumentation when the bargaining comprises argumentation (ignorance-based argumentation-based negotiation protocol). <p>Utility theory and decision-theoretic approaches are used in the theoretical analysis part, with an aim to prove the benefit of these three modifications in negotiation among myopic agents under uncertainty. Empirical studies by means of computer simulation are conducted in analyzing the cost and benefit of these modifications. Social agents, who use common human bargaining strategies, are the subjects of the simulation. <p>In general, we assume that agents are bounded rational with various degrees of belief and trust toward their opponents. In particular in the study of the non-monotonic-offers bargaining protocol, we assume that our agents have diminishing surplus. We further assume that our agents have increasing surplus in the study of delay-based bargaining protocol. And in the study of ignorance-based argumentation-based negotiation protocol, we assume that agents may have different knowledge and use different ontologies and reasoning engines. <p>Through theoretical analysis under various settings, we show the benefit of allowing these modifications in terms of agents expected surplus. And through simulation, we show the benefit of allowing these modifications in terms of social welfare (total surplus). Several implementation issues are then discussed, and their potential solutions in terms of some additional policies are proposed. Finally, we also suggest some future work which can potentially improve the reliability of these modifications.

This work is an interdisciplinary exploration of negotiations between the nations that make up Canada. It explores the disparity that remains between Aboriginals and non Aboriginals in Canadian North America at a systemic level. It will show that the postcolonial era is rampant with colonial doctrine and that these principles and policies maintain a dogmatic system that can not allow for the continued existence of Aboriginals as separate and distinct peoples. I will show my understanding and interpretation of an old Indigenous system and suggest ways in which aspects of this ancient system may be valuable in creating a coordination of world views that can allow for both factions to exist and prosper. I will specifically address how the differing world views that exist between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Canadians—and the inequality between these two groups of peoples—has been and remains infused in the negotiation process that these governments attempt to complete. The final aspect of this work will be a theatrical production piece that allows (in some small way) the traditional Indigenous approach to ‘law’ to be given equal weight as the Supreme Court in Delgamuukw suggests.

Electronic negotiation (e-negotiation) is a relatively new technology that has spawned as a result of the growth of electronic commerce (e-commerce). While researchers have dealt with a variety of topics in the area of e-negotiation the acceptance of e-negotiation technology is a subject that needs further exploration. This study contributes to the research in e-negotiation, by putting forward a conceptual model that explains the factors that affect technology acceptance of e-negotiation. We survey past works in the technology acceptance literature, and review three seminal theories ? the technology acceptance model (TAM), the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) and the diffusion of innovation theory (DOI). We develop a conceptual model by identifying various factors and interrelationships amongst them that are valid for the context of our study. To test our model, we develop a web interface for participants to experience e-negotiation, and incorporate a survey instrument, adapted from previous studies, to assess participants' attitudes and perceptions towards using e-negotiation. We also test whether the presence of learning agents has an effect on perceptions of negotiation outcomes. Regression and MANOVA tests indicate that attitude and associated attitudinal beliefs have a significant influence on acceptance of e-negotiation technology. We also find that perceptions of negotiation outcomes affect e-negotiation acceptance; however, learning agents were not found to have an influence on perceptions of negotiation outcomes.

An elementary precondition for the EU Member States to act coherently in the field of foreign policy is to reach a common standpoint on particular issues of the CFSP. Due to the intergovernmental character of decision-making in the sphere of the CFSP, the Member States reach a common position primarily through negotiations. In this regard the thesis focuses on an analysis of the EC/U Member States negotiations about two politically highly controversial foreign policy issues – the Yugoslav recognition crisis of 1991 and the Iraqi crisis of 2002/2003. Developing a theoretical model of analysis based on merging Moravcsik’s liberal intergovernmentalism and negotiation analysis the author seeks to examine and explain the outcomes of these negotiations, while emphasising the necessity to view negotiation as a process throughout which a variation in certain factors can occur and hence influence the outcomes of negotiation in a decisive way.

Electronic negotiation (e-negotiation) is a relatively new technology that has spawned as a result of the growth of electronic commerce (e-commerce). While researchers have dealt with a variety of topics in the area of e-negotiation the acceptance of e-negotiation technology is a subject that needs further exploration. This study contributes to the research in e-negotiation, by putting forward a conceptual model that explains the factors that affect technology acceptance of e-negotiation. We survey past works in the technology acceptance literature, and review three seminal theories ? the technology acceptance model (TAM), the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) and the diffusion of innovation theory (DOI). We develop a conceptual model by identifying various factors and interrelationships amongst them that are valid for the context of our study. To test our model, we develop a web interface for participants to experience e-negotiation, and incorporate a survey instrument, adapted from previous studies, to assess participants' attitudes and perceptions towards using e-negotiation. We also test whether the presence of learning agents has an effect on perceptions of negotiation outcomes. Regression and MANOVA tests indicate that attitude and associated attitudinal beliefs have a significant influence on acceptance of e-negotiation technology. We also find that perceptions of negotiation outcomes affect e-negotiation acceptance; however, learning agents were not found to have an influence on perceptions of negotiation outcomes.

Current research in multi-agent systems (MAS) has advanced to the development of open MAS, which are characterized by the heterogeneity of agents, free exit/entry and decentralized control. Conflicts of interest among agents are inevitable, and hence automated negotiation to resolve them is one of the promising solutions. This thesis studies three modifications on alternating-offer bargaining protocols for automated negotiation in open MAS. The long-term goal of this research is to design negotiation protocols which can be easily used by intelligent agents in accommodating their need in resolving their conflicts. In particular, we propose three modifications: allowing non-monotonic offers during the bargaining (non-monotonic-offers bargaining protocol), allowing strategic delay (delay-based bargaining protocol), and allowing strategic ignorance to augment argumentation when the bargaining comprises argumentation (ignorance-based argumentation-based negotiation protocol). <p>Utility theory and decision-theoretic approaches are used in the theoretical analysis part, with an aim to prove the benefit of these three modifications in negotiation among myopic agents under uncertainty. Empirical studies by means of computer simulation are conducted in analyzing the cost and benefit of these modifications. Social agents, who use common human bargaining strategies, are the subjects of the simulation. <p>In general, we assume that agents are bounded rational with various degrees of belief and trust toward their opponents. In particular in the study of the non-monotonic-offers bargaining protocol, we assume that our agents have diminishing surplus. We further assume that our agents have increasing surplus in the study of delay-based bargaining protocol. And in the study of ignorance-based argumentation-based negotiation protocol, we assume that agents may have different knowledge and use different ontologies and reasoning engines. <p>Through theoretical analysis under various settings, we show the benefit of allowing these modifications in terms of agents expected surplus. And through simulation, we show the benefit of allowing these modifications in terms of social welfare (total surplus). Several implementation issues are then discussed, and their potential solutions in terms of some additional policies are proposed. Finally, we also suggest some future work which can potentially improve the reliability of these modifications.

In daily negotiation, decision maker often affected to change the evalution of negotiation results by the offers which the opponent brought up in either positive or negative description. This is what the negotiation researcher callled ¡§framing effect¡¨. Framing theory first poposed by Kahneman & Tversky (1982) and researchers found there are many framing types and the framing effects proofed in many negotiation areas. On the other hand, the development of electronic bargainging is ofthen based on the assumption that human decision making is rational behavior, and there is no research applying framing theory on internet. Therefore this research would like to discuss whether framing could change electronic bargaining results. This research adopts attribute framing and goal framing proposed by Levin et al. (1998) and apply it with negotiation model to develop a virtual bargin store, then we play a role as seller to do field experiment. After collecting the experiment data and analyze them, we found framing do affect electronic bargining. Framing match concession will influence the seller¡¦s gain. General speaking, attribute framing effect is better than goal framing, and the difference between positive and negative attribute framing effect looms larger when it corporates with concession. However the difference between positive and negative goal framing looms less when it ties up with concession.

The National Airspace System in its current incarnation is nearing its maximum capacity. The Free Flight initiative, which would alter the current system by allowing pilots to select more direct routes to their destinations, has been proposed as a solution to this problem. However, allowing pilots to fly anywhere, as opposed to being restricted to planned jetways, greatly complicates the problem of ensuring separation between aircraft. In this thesis I propose using cooperative, multi-agent negotiation techniques in order to efficiently and pseudo-optimally resolve air traffic conflicts. The system makes use of software agents running in each aircraft that negotiate with one another to determine a safe and acceptable solution when a potential air traffic conflict is detected. The agents negotiate using the Monotonic Concession Protocol and communicate using aircraft to aircraft data links, or possibly the ADS-B signal. There are many benefits to using such a system to handle the resolution of air traffic conflicts. Automating CD&R will improve safety by reducing the workloads of air traffic controllers. Additionally, the robustness of the system is improved as the decentralization provided by software agents running in each aircraft reduces the dependence on a single ground based system to coordinate all aircraft movements. The pilots, passengers, and carriers benefit as well due to the increased efficiency of the solutions reached by negotiation.

Abstract Because of its unconstrained capability, tax negotiation system directed by the tax administration in general renders taxpayers and tax agent uncertain about the examined result of tax cases. The purpose of the paper is to investigate factors affecting tax agents¡¦ satisfaction on the tax negotiation system. In addition, we also examine the impact of tax agents¡¦ cognition and matching attitude to the tax negotiation system on the degree of satisfaction on the system. The research was conducted by distributing 520 questionnaires to subjects selected by purposive quota sampling from the tax agent of national tax administration of southern district. Among these 520 questionnaires, 444 valid subjects have been received. Our research results show that: 1. gender, category, age, education, experience, scale and county have significant influence on cognition, attitude and satisfaction. 2. if a tax agent has higher cognition on the tax negotiation system then his/her matching attitude to the system will also be higher which results in stronger satisfaction involvement on the system.