Substantive, Relational, and Proceudral Case Outcomes in Assisted Environmental Negotiations: Exploring the Relationship with Process Inputs, Neutral Third Party Roles, and Policy Context

Abstract

This paper reports on a study concerning the connection between the outcomes of neutral third party assisted environmental negotiations -- such as the nature of agreements reached, changes in relationships, and party satisfaction with the process – and negotiation process inputs and policy context. Negotiation process inputs include how negotiators address substantive issues, attributes of negotiator participation, and the role of neutral third parties. Policy context refers to factors such as the decision-making forum from which a negotiation emerged, and whether a negotiation concerns a pending or actual decision. These relationships are explored through an empirical study of 53 neutral third party assisted environmental negotiation cases at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Findings include significant relationships between certain substantive and participant process inputs (both directly and as enabling variables), the decision forum and decision status, and substantive and relational outcomes. The neutral third party factors considered show only a limited relationship to outcomes in these cases. There is also a significant amount of unexplained variation for some case outcomes. These findings have potential implications for negotiation theory, environmental negotiation practice, and future research.