Efficiency of multilateral negotiations in the WTO: role of non-governmental organizations

This diploma thesis deals with the impacts of the performance of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) on the effectiveness of multilateral negotiations in the World Trade Organization (WTO). In the introduction, I present the theoretical framework of the whole thesis which is based on the approach of Victor Kremenyuk and his definition of basic analytical elements of multilateral negotiation. Further, I describe the development of the relationship between the WTO and NGOs and I also introduce the various options of involvement of NGOs into the work of the WTO including the NGOs' activities by means of which they influence the negotiation effectiveness. Through the analysis of the NGOs' performance at the ministerial conferences in Singapore (1996), Geneva (1998) and Seattle (1999) I explore the participation, options of involvement and activities of NGOs. On a concrete case of NGOs' campaign for the acceptance of the commitment to respect the basic labour standards in WTO I examine the impacts of the NGOs' performance on particular elements of negotiation - actors and their strategies, issues, structure, process and outcomes of the negotiation. In the last part of this thesis I assess the overall performance of NGOs and consequently analyze its impacts on the effectiveness of multilateral..