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This course intends to provide students with a direct unique experience of the key challenges faced by negotiators and decision-makers in international crisis situations. It is based on a bargaining exercise, whereby instructors and students simulate a real world crisis event. The simulation has two key components: an in-class preparation and debrief phase, and a crisis event phase that takes place over 2 and a half days in a remote area. The specific crisis event to be simulated is motivated by real-world policy situations prior to the start of the course, but the topics may include both security and non-security (economic, environmental, social) matters. The didactic targets of the simulation are manifold, as described in the professional literature on crisis gaming, but several stand out: 1) the establishment of a direct experience with the negotiations challenges, 2) the need for the students to familiarize themselves with the necessary background information, 3) increased motivation for further study, and 4) team-building and socialization.
Important note for registration: We require all students interested in participating in the course to fill out a registration at https://forms.gle/ZhsooHmoPJGou9eD6 before February 17, 12:00. Poslední úprava: Parízek Michal, doc., Ph.D. (25.01.2025)
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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. Poslední úprava: Parízek Michal, doc., Ph.D. (24.01.2025)
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Poslední úprava: Kučera Tomáš, Mgr. et Mgr., Ph.D. (03.09.2019)
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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”). 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. Poslední úprava: Parízek Michal, doc., Ph.D. (24.01.2025)
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There are four main areas that we will evaluate:
The following grading scheme is applied:
In all the written text you submit, please follow these rules for the legitimate/illegitimate use of (generative) AI tools:
Poslední úprava: Parízek Michal, doc., Ph.D. (29.01.2025)
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Poslední úprava: Parízek Michal, doc., Ph.D. (24.01.2025)
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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. Important note for registration: We require all students interested in participating in the course to fill out a registration at https://forms.gle/ZhsooHmoPJGou9eD6 before February 17, 12:00. Poslední úprava: Parízek Michal, doc., Ph.D. (25.01.2025)
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