Challenges in Agent Based Social Simulation of Multilateral Negotiation

Abstract

This paper is an interim report on the development of an analysis of negotiating positions and strategies in a complex environmental management situation. There are seven categories of negotiating parties with many issues to be resolved. Each issue could be resolved in a large number of ways. An abstract model that captures the structure of the negotiations is reported. Simulations suggest that, while bilateral negotiations readily reach agreement, multilateral negotiations do not. The way forward for both modelling a the design of negotiation procedures will require historical evidence about successful multilateral negotiations.