NEGOTIATING AND LOBBYING IN PUBLIC AFFAIRS - 2025/6

Module Overview

The module will cover the basic elements of negotiation and lobbying, using a combination of theoretical and practical methods. The module introduces theoretical approaches to negotiation and lobbying, before exploring and illustrating them through active usage in a series of games and exercises.

Negotiations in class (weekly) as well as online (throughout the duration of the semester) allow students to address real-life political issues in the form of simulations. The taught theoretical insights are put to practice with tailored seminar activities. More importantly, students are required to evaluate their practice in a self-reflexive critical portfolio that will be based on the experience built throughout the semester. This will test their grasp of the topic as well as give them the opportunity to consider how it will inform their future practices as a 'negotiator' within employment.

Module provider

Politics & International Relations

Module Leader

GKOTSIS PAPAIOANNOU Nikolaos (Politics IR)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 7

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Semester 1

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

None

Module content

The sessions will run as 2-hour mixed sessions, combining elements of lecturing and active student participation. Content will cover:

• Theoretical models of negotiation and lobbying practice and process;


• Real-world examples of negotiation and lobbying, including conflict resolution, diplomatic mediation, international arbitration; across as variety of topics, including military, financial, governance, social policy and environmental matters.


• Application of core concepts in negotiation and lobbying to active exercises and games;


• Review and evaluation of the practice of negotiation and lobbying in contrast to theory.

Specific content will vary from year to year, but typical concepts to be investigated include:

• Power;


• Communication;


• Preparation;


• Trust;


• Package deals;


• Ethics.

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

N/A

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate

The portfolio is designed to allow students to articulate their reflection of their personal learning in relation to negotiation and lobbying, grounded in their experiences in the module (and beyond) and connected to the academic literature. This provides an opportunity for self-reflection, as well as for self-development.

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

• A portfolio of 4,000 words at the end of the module, structured to highlight the student’s learning, within a context of their wider reading.

Formative assessment and feedback

Students will be able to submit a short (500 word) reflection after the first part of the module, on the same topic as the final assessment, to help both with technique and with identifying areas of interest.

Students will also receive verbal feedback each week on their performances in the exercises.

Module aims

• Consolidate and develop students’ knowledge of negotiation and lobbying techniques and processes.
• Provide students with skills to research, present and negotiate on an applied basis.
• Introduce literature to students.
• Use a wide variety of methods to illustrate both theoretical and practical dimensions of the relevant materials to students.
• Familiarise students with negotiation settings and formats, including digital/virtual ones.
• Allow students to built their awareness of the topic beyond the context of the module and consider the application of their knowledge in an employment setting.

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

Provide students with the opportunity to develop both theoretical knowledge and practical skills in the field of negotiation and lobbying. The class contact time is therefore very student-led, as they work through a series of exercises to implement their pre-class learning and to generate opportunities to reflect on that practice.

The learning and teaching methods include:

• Student-led class contact time 


• Podcasts or pre-recorded videos of lectures 


• Student-led reading and preparation


• Peer learning and teaching


• Semester-long simulation of a real-life negotiation as well as weekly seminar interactive activities tailored to the weekly topics.

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: POLM035

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2025/6 academic year.