Simulation of Politics - JPB030

• Anglický název: Simulation of Politics
• Zajišťuje: Katedra politologie (23-KP)
• Fakulta: Fakulta sociálních věd
• Platnost: od 2023
• Semestr: zimní
• E-Kredity: 6
• Způsob provedení zkoušky: zimní s.:
• Rozsah, examinace: zimní s.:0/2, Zk [HT]
• Počet míst: neurčen / 15 (15)
• Minimální obsazenost: neomezen
• 4EU+: ne
• Virtuální mobilita / počet míst pro virtuální mobilitu: ne
• Stav předmětu: vyučován
• Jazyk výuky: angličtina
• Způsob výuky: prezenční
• Další informace: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1LeeZIP0qvU5bR7tOIvTbVAGWfxET6eveCBiW7I_SgnE/edit?usp=sharing
• Poznámka: předmět je možno zapsat mimo plán; povolen pro zápis po webu; při zápisu přednost, je-li ve stud. plánu
• Garant: Mgr. Lukáš Hájek, M.A., Ph.D.
• Vyučující: Mgr. Lukáš Hájek, M.A., Ph.D.
• Třída: Courses not for incoming students

Anotace

The course introduces essential processes of contemporary politics. To do that, the course employs a teaching method of simulations, which is a unique approach to teaching political science. Importantly, the method helps students to understand events and processes of current politics from the perspective of participants. Seminars focus mainly on simulated debates, but a substantial part of the course also consists of preparing the discussions and evaluating them.

Poslední úprava: Hájek Lukáš, Mgr., M.A., Ph.D. (10.09.2025)

Cíl předmětu

The course has the following objectives:

• introduce a teaching method of simulation in political science,
• familiarise students with some essential debates of contemporary politics,
• teach students to employ soft skills (rhetoric, negotiation, acting tactically, etc.).

Poslední úprava: Hájek Lukáš, Mgr., M.A., Ph.D. (10.09.2025)

Podmínky zakončení předmětu

The final grade will consist of completing the following requirements:

1. Preparations (45%) – Before a simulation, students will write a preparation paper on the discussed issue (1,000–1,200 words, excluding the list of references). The content of a paper will be specified before each simulation based on the topic of the debate.
2. Simulations (15%) – The activity of students during each simulation will be evaluated. Students will assess their activity by themselves using anonymous questionnaires.
3. Feedbacks (25%) – After a simulation, students will write a paper (500–600 words) evaluating the simulation.
4. Election Campaign (15%) – The teacher will evaluate students’ activity during the long-term simulation.

Within the simulations and feedbacks, the best four marks are taken into account (there are five simulations). Importantly, late submissions will be penalised by decreasing the initial grade by four percentage points for each commenced hour of late submission. No retake of any part contributing to the final assessment is possible.

Every student who starts to fulfil the course’s requirements will be graded at the end of the semester. The course uses the following grading scale of the Faculty of Social Sciences:

• 90.01–100.00% (A – excellent),
• 80.01–90.00% (B – very good),
• 70.01–80.00% (C – good),
• 60.01–70.00% (D – satisfactory),
• 50.01–60.00% (E – sufficient),
• 0.00–50.00% (F – fail).

Poslední úprava: Hájek Lukáš, Mgr., M.A., Ph.D. (17.09.2025)

Literatura

Preparations for seminars consist of reading literature and studying media and primary sources relevant to a topic of a current simulation. The teaching method of simulation is based on the following sources, which are recommended for an additional study:

• Asal, V., & Blake, E. L. (2006). Creating simulations for political science education. Journal of Political Science Education, 2(1), 1–18.
• Baranowski, M., & Weir, K. (2010). Power and politics in the classroom: The effect of student roles in simulations. Journal of Political Science Education, 6(3), 217–226.
• Baranowski, M. K., & Weir, K. A. (2015). Political simulations: What we know, what we think we know, and what we still need to know. Journal of Political Science Education, 11(4), 391–403.
• Ben-Yehuda, H. (2020). All the World’s a Stage: The Theater of Political Simulations. Routledge.
• Raymond, C., & Usherwood, S. (2013). Assessment in simulations. Journal of Political Science Education, 9(2), 157–167.
• Robinson, J. A., Anderson, L. F., Hermann, M. G., & Snyder, R. C. (1966). Teaching with inter-nation simulation and case studies. American Political Science Review, 60(1), 53–65.
• Usherwood, S. (2015). Simulations in politics: A guide to best practice. The Higher Education Academy. Accessed at https://www.heacademy.ac.uk/system/files/resources/Simulations%20in%20Politics%20-%20a%20guide%20to%20best%20practice.pdf
• Wunische, A. (2019). Lecture versus simulation: Testing the long-term effects. Journal of Political Science Education, 15(1), 37–48.

Poslední úprava: Hájek Lukáš, Mgr., M.A., Ph.D. (10.09.2025)

Metody výuky

The course employs a teaching method of simulated debates. Thus, the course is composed of six seminar meetings once a fortnight, and each of the seminars lasts for 160 minutes. Thanks to this format, it is possible to study specific issues and processes in the necessary details of a simulation accompanied by initial instructions about simulation settings and a final evaluation of the debate.

All students must prepare for a simulation by studying relevant facts to a specific debate. After a simulation, students must also evaluate the discussion in their own words. The very simulations are based on the active participation of students, which conditions the success of each simulation.

All the course materials, together with assignment instructions, will be uploaded to Moodle. Students will also use the platform to submit their work.

Students may use generative AI tools, such as ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini, Perplexity and similar, provided that the following conditions are met. Specifically, they may be used for the purposes of proofreading, text analysis, translations, searching for sources or preparing strategies and tactics for the simulations. On the contrary, the prohibition of use applies to the text creation of preparations and reflections. Any use must be cited in the final output in accordance with academic rules. Generative AI tools will not be used to evaluate student outputs. Any violation of these rules will lead to a reduction in grade, failure to complete the course or disciplinary proceedings, depending on its severity. Only compliance with the aforementioned rules will guarantee the fulfilment of the educational objectives of the course, protect equal conditions for all students, and also ensure their privacy. The aforementioned potential sanctions also apply to any plagiarism.

Poslední úprava: Hájek Lukáš, Mgr., M.A., Ph.D. (17.09.2025)

Sylabus

1. Introduction, Simulation in Political Science (October 1)

The content of the course will be presented. Students will learn about a teaching method of simulations together with both advantages and disadvantages of the approach. Specific types of simulation will be differentiated. Last but not least, students will commence the semester-long simulation of the election campaign.

Reading:

• Asal, V., & Blake, E. L. (2006). Creating simulations for political science education. Journal of Political Science Education, 2(1), 1–18.
• Baranowski, M. K., & Weir, K. A. (2015). Political simulations: What we know, what we think we know, and what we still need to know. Journal of Political Science Education, 11(4), 391–403.

2. Green Climate Fund (October 29)

International negotiations are based on a specific dynamic of discussions. Therefore, the simulation imitates a meeting of the Green Climate Fund board that needs to decide what projects will be financially supported by the fund.

Reading:

• Odell, J. S., & Tingley, D. (2013). Negotiating Agreements in International Relations. In J. Mansbridge & J. C. Martin (Eds.), Negotiating Agreement in Politics (pp. 144–182). American Political Science Association.

3. Civil War Settlement (November 12)

The simulation is based on a fictional three-way civil war in a fictional country in Africa. Participants need to agree to a cease-fire to stop further casualties and damages. Besides this, it is necessary to negotiate a comprehensive peace settlement to prevent a restart of the conflict and to secure a peaceful and prosperous future for the country. 

Reading:

• Du Toit, P. (2008). Rules and Procedures for Negotiated Peacemaking. In J. Darby & R. Mac Ginty (Eds.), Contemporary Peacemaking: Conflict, Peace Processes and Post-War Reconstruction (pp. 78–93). Springer.
• Mitchell, C. (2008). Mediation and the Ending of Conflicts. In J. Darby & R. Mac Ginty (Eds.), Contemporary Peacemaking: Conflict, Peace Processes and Post-War Reconstruction (pp. 94–104). Springer.

4. Coalition Formation (November 26)

The content of the simulation is a hypothetical post-election coalition formation in the United Kingdom. The parties to the negotiations are Reform UK, Labour Party, Conservative Party, Liberal Democrats, Scottish National Party, and Green Party.

Reading:

• Martin, C. J. (2013). Conditions for Successful Negotiation: Lessons from Europe. In J. Mansbridge & J. C. Martin (Eds.), Negotiating Agreement in Politics (pp. 121–143). American Political Science Association.

3. Euthanasia Legalization (December 10)

The discussion simulates a round table discussion on the possibility of legalising euthanasia in the Czech Republic. The participants in the debate are representatives of parliamentary parties from both sides of the opinion spectrum and representatives of interest groups, including both supporters and opponents of the changes.

Reading:

• Foster, C., Mansbridge, J., & Martin, C. J. (2013). Negotiation Myopia. In J. Mansbridge & J. C. Martin (Eds.), Negotiating Agreement in Politics (pp. 73–85). American Political Science Association.
• Warren, M. E., & Mansbridge, J. (2013). Deliberative Negotiation. In J. Mansbridge & J. C. Martin (Eds.), Negotiating Agreement in Politics (pp. 86–120). American Political Science Association.

6. Election Debate (January 7)

The simulation closes the semester-long simulation of the election campaign. It will consist of the final election debate and the simulation debrief.

Poslední úprava: Hájek Lukáš, Mgr., M.A., Ph.D. (25.09.2025)

Vstupní požadavky

No special methodological or factual knowledge is required to enrol in the course. However, the prerequisite is an intense interest in current politics and at least basic knowledge of the actors and processes operating in it.

Poslední úprava: Hájek Lukáš, Mgr., M.A., Ph.D. (10.09.2025)