UN SECURITY COUNCIL SIMULATION

Project Intro: This project is a culmination of the many theories, issues and terminology studied in the course. Through simulation the student will apply information obtained in the course to a scenario devised by the instructor. This is a three part project deadlines are firm and participation is not optional.

Project Objectives: By the end of this project the successful student will be able to:

• Demonstrate a working knowledge of the UN SECURITY COUNCIL.
• Effectively use terminology acquired in the class.
• Describe an international crisis in terms of a national perspective.
• Develop an affinity for solving international problems in a multilateral forum.
• Experience the ?watering down? of policy and the necessity of compromise.

PART I: In this part of the project the student is required to research and write a "Position Paper." This paper is a formal statement of the assigned country's policy regarding a particular issue. Before writing the paper, research the background of the topic and the assigned country's position. Position Papers should:

• Include at least two pages in text and a reference page. (5 points)
• Provide and overview of the situation under discussion. (5 points)
• Describe how the issue relates to the assigned country. (20 points)
• State the country's stance on the issue. (20 points)
• Discuss possible scenarios through which the issue may be resolved. (25 points)

The first part of the project is due the end of Week 11 April 27th. When complete, post your position paper in the Conference section entitled UN PROJECT. Read the papers of those in the class, so background is gained into the persuasion of the other nations.

 

PART II: By Wednesday April 30th each study group needs to elect a Council President. In no way is the President required to do all the work. Rather they are to direct the flow of the debate and task Security Council Members when necessary. Keep in mind this is not a dictatorship.

 

In Part II of the project the students work solely in the Study Group section of the classroom to debate the issue. The success or failure of the project depends on the debate and exchange of ideas that occurs in this section. From week 12-13 students are to debate the issue and sell their country's position to the other nations of the Security

 

Council.Argue the possible scenarios addressed in Part I. This is where timely class participation is must! Students are to post responses early and respond in a very prompt manner to others in an effort to win support for stated positions. If you fail to participate it could jeopardize the outcome of the final collaborative document.

This part of the project is worth 75 points. Points will be earned individually according to the following criteria:

• Frequency of responses. Respond often and early to classmate's suggestions.
• Quality of student responses. The student needs to show a command of the facts as interpreted by the country they represent. Each student must advocate their assigned nation's position.

In debating the situation and the possible resolution consider the foreign policy options available to nations: propaganda; diplomacy; trade relations; foreign aid; forming/maintaining alliances; efforts through an international organization like the United Nations; boycotts, sanctions and other inducements; use of military force (list from Educational Resources for Preventing Deadly Conflict by the Carnegie Commission on Preventing Deadly Conflicts).

 

PART III: This is the final part of the project. Students will be graded as a group on the final product. Unlike the Security Council in New York, non-action is not an option. Students do not have the luxury of ending debate without a solution. After debating the issue, it is time to come up with a game plan. The goal is to draft a RESOLUTION addressing the issue brought before the council. For this part of the project, students must:

• Draw from the issues debated in PART II.
• Devise a course or action based on debate in PART II.
• Write a resolution.
• Submit the resolution as a collaborative document.
• All students must contribute to the writing of this document.
• Place final resolution in the Conference titled UN Security Council Project, no later than May 18th.

This part of the project is worth 50 points. In assessing a group grade I will look at the following.

• Does this document reflect the general tone of the debate in PART II?
• Is there participation on the part of the all members of the group?

In looking at this project the student should take note that 150 of the 200 points are entirely left to the discretion of the student. Meaning the individual has complete control over their grade in these two areas. If the student does the work and participates fully they reap the points. Only Part III is a group grade. So for those of you who shun group work because of slackers, their inaction will not adversely affect your grade.

 

THE SCENARIO: Tensions have flared on the Korean Peninsula. Recent action on the part of North Korea includes:

• Expelling UN nuclear inspectors.
• The refusal to cooperate with the IAEA.
• Test firing of missiles into the Sea of Japan.
• Increasingly belligerent rhetoric on the part of Kim Jung-Il.
• The withdrawal of North Korea from Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
• The negation of 1994 Agreement between North Korea and the United States.

In January the head of the IAEA, Mohamed el-Baredei, gave Kim Jung-Il an ultimatum: ?let the inspectors back in or face the consequences. After three months North Korea has yet to oblige. Intelligence reports indicate that the North Koreans are working to make the nuclear facility at Kumchang-ri fully operational. Japan and South Korea have requested an emergency meeting of the SECURITY COUNCIL to address this issue and take action, as tensions on the Korean Peninsula continue to rise.

 

From the syllabus:

UN Security Council (Group Project): 20%. This project will be assigned week 10 of the class and due during week 14. In study groups, students will represent one of the 5 permanent members of the UN Security Council. A fictitious or real situation will be presented to the group. Students will then be asked to build consensus and devise a multilateral solution to the assigned scenario. The idea of the project is to simulate the difficulties of seeking multinational solutions to problems which in many cases have deep national consequences. A detailed guide and grading rubric will be provided to the students.

 

STUDY GROUPS:

Since there are an odd number of students in the class (13) the study groups have the five permanent members of the Security Council plus an additional member or two. I took the liberty of making Japan a member of the Security Council although it is not reflected in the current council makeup. Thought it would make the debate more interesting. I purposely did not include North Korea, since the amount of work required by that student would be disproportionate to the work of the other members in the group.

 

Study Group A:

Bonnie Campbell-Kaufman-China Alison Davis-Russia Michael Fleming-United States Kristi Hawthorne-Britain Varonica Kelley-France Anthony Lincoln-Japan

Study Group B

Thomas Lohr-China Katerina Manely-Russia Patrick-Mosher-United States Benedict Odibo-Britain Jay Ragan-France Jared Roman-Germany Kanae Toguchi-Japan