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absolutely worth it! The next section briefly describes the core features and processes of
the simulation and we elaborate and provide examples of each feature in the SD’s guide
below.
Overview of the simulation
Actors & confronted problems
First, the simulation director (SD) assigns each student a unique role such as the Prime
Minister of the UK. The actor list includes countries, networked (& hidden) terrorist
organizations, the international news media, state actors, hidden intelligence
organizations, and international organizations such as the UN, EU, NATO, and World
Bank (See Table 1).
The major issues students confront in this particular simulation include
international terrorism, the future of Iraq, and globalization. For example, students must
discuss the writing of an Iraqi constitution and confront terrorism issues in an
environment of complex interconnectedness of state and non-state actors, created by
globalization. However, due to the countries involved, students must deal with the Israeli-
Palestinian, China-Taiwan, North-South Korea, and India-Pakistan conflicts as well.
Nonetheless, we argue below that the general rules and principles described herein are
applicable to just about any international relations conflict or issue.
Resources
Each group and organization receives a sum of money (distributed by GDP and then
slightly modified) and researches their group or organization’s military capabilities. We
built a database of military weapons, troops and their locations and ask the students to
update its contents each simulation. To change a value, they must provide appropriate
documentation.
Student Goals
Students must research the current international issue positions by their respective
countries and organizations to generate a list of goals (e.g., create a free and independent
Palestinian state). Students must research their country positions on multiple issues,
discuss those positions and develop an overall strategy to achieve their goals. Working
from the perspective of a foreign nation, they are forced to recognize their friends and
Convention