Told from the perspective of a participant in the negotiations, the book traces the evolution of the developing countries as actors in the economic system and describes the circumstances which gave rise to the demand for the New International Economic Order. It presents a detailed analysis of the negotiations on the NIEO and compares the strategies adopted by the parties to the negotiations. The geopolitical context within which the negotiations were carried out is also described. Equally important, Multilateral Diplomacy highlights the role of South-South cooperation as a counter strategy pursued by the developing countries in order to strengthen their bargaining position.

The study points to the essential continuity between the struggle for the NIEO during the 1970s and the current efforts of developing countries to defend their economic interests in the negotiations taking place within the framework of the World Trade Organization and other similar forums.
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