Intensifying worldwide environmental changes as well as political, cultural, religious, and economic crises have made intergovernmental organisations (IGOs) important instruments in international and global cooperation. In order to cope with their diverse stakeholders, it is more imperative than ever for intergovernmental organisations to engage in personnel policy on an international scale. Successful diversity management is an essential prerequisite for organisational performance, conflict management, and dynamics of IGOs. Björn A. Peters examines the challenges of diversity and managing diversity in IGOs on the basis of the Mekong River Commission case study.

Autorentext
Dr. Björn A. Peters completed his Ph. D. studies at the Institute for Co-operation in Developing Countries at the University of Marburg in co-operation with the MRC-GTZ Cooperation Programme in Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand, and Vietnam. Currently, Dr. Peters is an assistant to senior management in an international insurance company.

Zusammenfassung
Intergovernmental organisations are important instruments in international and global cooperation. Worldwide environmental changes as well as political, cultural, religious and economic conflicts are heightening the importance tremendously. In order to cope with these issues, it is more imperative than ever for intergovernmental organisations to engage in personnel policy on an international scale and to focus on diversity and managing diversity. Human diversity and managing diversity are complex and exciting aspects of organi- tional life and require a great amount of understanding, empathy, openness and interest in new and different things. The diversity within the case study presented in this book allowed different insights and a differentiated assessment of the various diversity and managing diversity concepts in the context of an intergovernmental organisation. As the empirical exploration of these concepts is still in its beginnings, the methodolo- cal experiences and insights gained during the field study were of special relevance for me. This study is a contribution to improving understanding and management of diversity in intergovernmental organisations. It was above all Prof. Dr. Michael Kirk in whom I found a sympathetic listener and who encouraged me at all times. I especially owe him a debt of gratitude for the critical and constructive comments in all stages of the study that significantly contributed to raising its quality. I would also like to express special thanks to Dr. Michael Stephan for agreeing to second mark the thesis.

Inhalt
Diversity Management in Intergovernmental Organisations.- Programmatic Orientation: Personnel Policy as the Embracing Framework.- Diversity and Managing Diversity: Theory and State of the Art.- Research process and empirical proceedings.- Diversity and Managing Diversity in an Intergovernmental Organisation: The Mekong River Commission Case Study.- Diversity and Managing Diversity: Implications for Intergovernmental Organisations.- Résumé and Conclusions.