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Poslední úprava: Dr. rer. pol. Michal Parízek, M.Sc., Ph.D. (11.02.2021)
• we aim to provide students with direct experience with international crisis bargaining, by participating in a simulation of a real-life crisis event • after two preparatory sessions, the actual simulation takes place over a weekend (Friday-Sunday) in MARCH The classes take place (see also the syllabus) on FEBRUARY 17 (Wednesday on the first week of the semester), FEBRUARY 24, and APRIL 7. The weekend event takes place on MARCH 26-28. The classes will be online by default, and dual/hybrid if the government restrictions allow. Please read carefully the information on registration requirements below, and make sure to fill out the registration form by the set deadline. Link to the Zoom meeting room is provided below in the Teaching method section. |
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Poslední úprava: Dr. rer. pol. Michal Parízek, M.Sc., Ph.D. (19.01.2023)
As you are becoming experts on international relations and international security, perhaps you’ve been wondering how it would feel to be in the shoes of diplomats and political leaders who decide over the course of events in world politics. Our aim in this course is exactly this: to give you a chance to become, for a short while, representatives of states trying to solve a major international crisis. In the coming weeks, we will hold two in-class sessions and you will work with your team to prepare your bargaining position. Afterwards, we will conduct an intensive crisis simulation over the course of three days in a university facility outside of Prague. After that, we will meet once again for a simulation debriefing and discussion. |
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Poslední úprava: Dr. rer. pol. Michal Parízek, M.Sc., Ph.D. (24.01.2023)
The crisis game is a pedagogical tool for simulating the decision-making process at the international level. This technique, in comparison with classroom teaching, allows students to get the first-hand experience of the conditions and constraints of practical international politics. The game will be set in a problem invented for the game, though based on a real background. The problem should be of gravity sufficient enough to generate an international tension that would require governments in the real life to react. The game situation must also permit for diplomatic and political rather than military treatment, although a resort to force should remain an available option for actors. History of the concept The crisis game concept has its origins in war games of the Prussian General Staff. However, it had not been until the 20th Century that the traditionally purely military games were transformed into a political exercise. The direct forerunner of the crisis game concept thus was the game organised by Erich von Manstein in Germany in 1929. This exercise was designed to stimulate a situation in which political tension led to a Polish attack on East Prussia. The aim of this game was to find a strategy utilising the combination of military means and diplomacy and also to bring the understanding of politics to military officers. For the purpose of academic research the concept of crisis games was developed in RAND by Herbert Goldhamer in the 1950s. RAND’s experimenting with political gaming was intended as a tool of research. Subsequently was the model of politico-military games imitated by other academic institutions, including for the purpose of teaching. Whereas the research strain of gaming did not live up to expectations and was soon abandoned, the crisis game as a teaching tool has become firmly rooted in curricula of US and UK universities. How to apply? The bad news is that the capacity of this course is very limited. Every year, we do our best to select those students who demonstrate an exceptional motivation to participate in this course, who are generally active in other classes, and who possess sufficient language skills that are required for the simulation game. As such, we do not follow the usual first-come-first-serve principle but reserve the right to select the participant based on the information that you provide us about yourselves during the application process. See the entry requirements section below for a link to a registration form.
Weekend event The weekend event will take place at one of the Charles University training facilities in Pec pod Sněžkou in the Giant Mountains (“Krkonoše”). Once again, we require a physical presence at this event – there will be no online component for distant learning and you cannot pass this course if you are unable to attend the lectures and the event in person. We will leave Prague together by bus on Friday morning and return on Sunday in the late afternoon. Do not expect luxury lodging – this is a relatively basic mountain cabin with shared rooms for 4-5 people. Moreover, make sure to pack warm clothes and hiking boots to be able to walk in difficult terrain and snow. While the Institute of Political Studies covers a large part of the event budget, we still need you to cover part of the accommodation costs. The participation fee has been set to 2000 CZK and it is payable in the first ten days of the semester. This fee covers accommodation, transport, and meals. This course has no online participation posssibility, due to its unique nature based on interactive negotiation during the weekend event. |
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Poslední úprava: Dr. rer. pol. Michal Parízek, M.Sc., Ph.D. (29.01.2021)
There are four main areas that we will evaluate:
The following grading scheme is applied:
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Poslední úprava: Dr. rer. pol. Michal Parízek, M.Sc., Ph.D. (29.01.2021)
Sadly, the capacity of this course is strictly limited. Every year, we do our best to select particularly those students who show an exceptional motivation to participate in this course, who are generally active in other classes, and who possess sufficient language and other skills that are required for the simulation game. As such, we do not follow the usual first-come-first-serve principle but reserve the right to select the participant based on the information that you provide us about yourselves. Click on the following link and fill out the registration questionnaire by February 16th: https://forms.gle/JMpoByi4Xf111qty6 We will inform you shortly whether your registration was successful. |