STUDENTS TURN DIPLOMATS TO RESOLVE ‘CRISIS’
Gulf Times
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Nov 25 2009
Qatar
Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service in Qatar (SFS-Qatar)
and the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy (ISD) at Georgetown hosted
a crisis simulation exercise for students at Education City recently.
The two-day event, centring on a fictional stalemate scenario between
Armenia and Azerbaijan over the territory known as Nagorno-Karabakh,
gave 21 SFS-Qatar students and a select group of top secondary school
students a unique opportunity to personally explore the process and
dynamics of conflict resolution and hone their skills in negotiation,
diplomacy and critical thinking.
Participants were divided into seven groups, each representing
parties to the conflict – Armenia, Azerbaijan and Nagorno-Karabakh –
along with representatives of Russia, Turkey, Iran and the US, with
the aim of conducting intensive negotiations in an effort to reach
a settlement over the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh.
The exercise, administered by SFS-Qatar assistant dean for academic
affairs Daniel C Stoll, as well as James P Seevers and Col Bryan P
Fenton of ISD in Washington, DC, was organised as part of an ongoing
series of simulations held each semester at SFS-Qatar.
"The students were high performers in the two crisis simulations on
China-Taiwan and North Korea that we conducted in Doha last year.
Based on that experience, we decided to try an even more challenging
exercise with them this fall focused on an international negotiation
to resolve a frozen conflict," Seevers explained.
The wide range of students participating in this semester’s exercise
made for an interesting and dynamic experience. "The group of students
participating in the recent crisis simulation was the most diverse
we have ever had for this type of exercise: not only were freshmen,
sophomore, juniors and seniors involved, but a recent alum of SFS-Qatar
participated as did two high school students. Despite the variety in
backgrounds, they quickly blended into seven effective teams and,
over the two days, effectively represented the interests of their
respective countries," said Stoll.
The simulation exercise allowed students to increase their
understanding of the considerations and challenges involved in
global conflict resolution, as they organised meetings to explore the
interests of the different stakeholders, presented the positions of
their countries, and drafted negotiated agreements.
"This simulation brings us closer to knowing what a real conflict and
negotiation process is like. As students of international affairs,
we should all participate in activities like this one," said Mohamed
Abouzied, (SFS ’13), a delegate on the team representing Turkey.
With aspirations to serve in his own country’s foreign ministry,
Abouzied added: "As a future practitioner of international relations
and representative of Egypt, I am glad to participate in exercises
like this because they prepare me for the real thing after graduation."
The next crisis simulation exercise to be held during the Spring 2010
semester, will focus on a humanitarian emergency, and could involve
students working internationally.
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