DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE

SK 1136

FOREIGN POLICY ANALYSIS

Department of Political Science, University of Gothenburg.

Ariadna Guevara Guerra

SEMINAR 3: INTERNATIONAL
NEGOTIATIONS. THE CASE OF BREXIT
Introduction
In this essay, I will explain the most interesting points of the negotiations between the
United Kingdom and the European Union in 2020, as well as a brief history, the high
points of the negotiations, and France's main interests and preferences. The main
objective of this essay is to explain the complexity of current international negotiations
and even more so when they are between powerful countries in the international sphere.

Background to the negotiations

One of the most relevant milestones in the beginning of the negotiation process was the
"euro-skepticism". This conception questioned the growing integration with Europe as a
strategy, in other words, it did not seek conflict with the continent, but rather doubted
the benefits of this deep integration. Throughout 2018 and 2019, Theresa May and her
Brexit Secretary, Howard Davis, attempted to go through House of Commons.
However, the majority of the body deemed them insufficient and rejected them.

Following the agreement to govern with the Democratic Unionist Party, who contribute
10 seats to achieve a majority, negotiations between the United Kingdom and the EU
formally began on June 19, 2017. After six rounds of negotiations, the second phase of
negotiations began in February 2018, when three issues were discussed: the transitional
period, possible solutions to avoid a hard border in Ireland and the governance of the
withdrawal agreement. After Theresa May's resignation in 2019, Boris Johnson closed
Parliament for a longer period than the one established. Johnson begins to articulate a
successful strategy of pitting the people against the elites, and the gap needs to be
bridged by calling a general election. At the end of the year, the United Kingdom
submits a request for an extension of Brexit. And finally, on January 31, 2020, the
United Kingdom leaves the European Union.
Country features and negotiation tactics
Countries are influenced by numerous elements and tactics: such as power, preferences
and culture (Dür and Mateo, 2010). Power is one of the most important topics in social
science, defined as the possession of material capabilities and resources. The existence
of comparatively great capabilities enables the use of tough negotiation tactics hard
bargaining tactics. This is true because tough negotiation can be opposed by other
agents with very similar adversarial tactics, so that greater physical capabilities make it
possible to handle the effects of a potential reprisal. Second, a threat might have to be
executed if the other actor will not yield, and implementing a threat can be very
expensive for parties with lower capacity. Finally, the application of tough negotiation
techniques can lead to a decline in relations. The selection of strategy, therefore, is one's
perceived capacity to employ adversarial tactics and the other side's perceived capacity
to counter these strategies" (Pruitt 1983: 184).

Preferences can also influence the choice of negotiation policy, in addition to an actor's
power. Preferences influence a country's negotiating behavior through at least two
different channels. Firstly, an agent's preferences concerning the status quo and the
preferences of other agents shape that agent's relative willingness to conclude an
agreement. Eagerness, for its part, is connected to the selection of the negotiating
strategy in which countries that are not especially anxious to reach an understanding
should, be more likely to use harsh negotiating tactics, as they are not particularly
anxious to get a deal.
The last feature of the nation is culture. Culture is the set of patterns of behavior,
beliefs, rules and values that is (implicitly) widely shared by a given social group. Even
more important, cultural norms dictate what behavior is appropriate in a particular
situation. Even more important, cultural norms dictate what behavior is appropriate in a
particular situation. in a specific situation. For instance, culture may dictate to an actor
that using harsh negotiation tactics is no longer appropriate. Similarly, culture can shape
an agent's assumptions about what approach will be successful in a concrete scenario
about what strategy will be effective in a specific situation.
France perspective: Interest and preferences
The rights of the rights of European and British citizens has been protected; this was the
government's main priority. French people residing in the United Kingdom will be
allowed to continue to live, work and study in the United Kingdom under the existing
conditions. Reciprocally, the British people living on French territory will benefit from
the same entitlements as they do today. Nevertheless, the withdrawal of the United
Kingdom will have some implications: for example, British citizens living in France can
no longer vote or stand for election in municipal elections.

The new European order would have to respect the principles essential to protect the
European project and the interests of the EU, that was the main objective all along.
Specifically, it will have to respect its decision-making autonomy, the integrity of the
single market and the balance between rights and obligations. In the negotiations,
France was very vigilant on several points to protect its citizens, farmers, fishermen and
businesses.

As far as trade is concerned, the government will have to guarantee the preservation of
fair competition conditions between the United Kingdom and the European Union.
Closer trade links will depend on regulatory convergence. The Government will pay the
greatest attention to the fishing sector. France's position is strong and clear: the
Government wishes to preserve the best possible access for French fishermen to British
waters and, in this field included, a loyal competitive situation with the UK. The urgent
nature of the situation must not result to haste or to accept any concessions that could
jeopardize their own national interests. The United Kingdom will continue to be an
extremely important partners for France, with which it aims to maintain strong bilateral
ties, in particular in the area of security and defense.