Simulation Game: Staniztan Union

December 4, 2020

The ICP and HR students played an exciting simulation game on "Staniztan Union" (SU) as part of the Introduction to International Relations class on December 3, 2020. During the game, each of the students had assigned roles and represented the Nur-Staniztan Republic, the Free Republic of Staniztan, and the Democratic Republic of Staniztan. In a time of economic crisis, several ministers, the governments, and market players tried to agree on how to cut public spending to reassure financial markets and avoid a much worse recession. They, however, could only reduce the SU spending unanimously. Thus, they needed to negotiate for the revision of the state and the Union budgets. After three round negotiations, both at the state and the Union level, they agreed to tighten their belts and save their single currency: Stuaro.

By the end of the simulation game, students improved their negotiation and debating skills by practicing diplomacy in different scenarios.

In the ICP Department, International Relations courses are designed explicitly through "Simulations, Case Studies, and Academic Debates," whereby the course instructor actively participates in the European Consortium for Political Research (ECPR), "Teaching and Learning Politics" Standing Group.