Following the leader: The role of the host nation President of Conferences of the Parties to the UNFCCC

Abstract: In this thesis I investigate the role of formal leaders in international negotiations. I present theories on the role and influence formal leaders might have in international negotiations, and what variation in this role and influence might depend on. I then use this theoretical framework to analyse the role of the Presidents of the UN Climate Change Conferences in Copenhagen in 2009 and in Cancún in 2010, how these differed, how they were perceived by observers such as the media and NGO representatives, and if their roles were perceived differently, what was their perception of the underlying factors causing this. I further analyse these images with the aid of my theoretical framework.