Games and simulations are increasingly used in courses on international politics. This study explores the hypothesis that games are better than simulations (as well as only reading and lectures) in introducing students to abstract concepts integral to an understanding of world politics. The study compares a two-level Prisoner's Dilemma game…

This paper explains how to conduct a SALT simulation with upper division undergraduate and/or graduate students who have a limited background in international relations. Playing time is approximately four weeks. It is suggested that an introductory course devoted to reading, lectures, and discussions precede the simulation. (Author/RM)

Over 60,000 secondary school and college students participate annually in the Model United Nations (UN) simulations in order to learn the complexities of international politics and to increase their understanding of other nations and cultural perspectives. This paper provides a broad overview of the Model UN program and its role in global…

A simulation designed for an introductory college-level international politics and comparative foreign policy course is described. Regional Crisis requires student decision-maker diplomats, grouped in teams, to respond to a Middle Eastern crisis that has substantial potential for escalation. In response to an initial crisis scenario, student teams…

Describes a classroom simulation that has students role play membership in the United Nations. Students are assigned countries and through research and debate learn that country's position on international issues. The culminating activity has students participate in a mock United Nations Assembly vote. Argues that this method encourages students…

The simulation game "Conflict", stressing decision making in foreign policy, has several specific objectives which are: 1) to demonstrate the complexity of decision making in foreign policy; 2) to raise questions on foreign relations; 3) to make students aware of problems in world affairs; 4) to help students understand relationships…

A broad coverage of the war/peace field is represented by the items in this annotated bibliography and resource guide. It attempts to provide some solutions to questions about what to teach, how to teach it, and, of course, where to find materials. Both disciplines and topics appropriate to social studies courses are represented by books of…

This document describes a National Security Council (NSC) role playing exercise designed to introduce students to the complexities and dynamics of U.S. foreign policy crisis management. Based upon the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) program, "In the Face of Terrorism," this classroom exercise casts students as NSC team members charged…

The programed instruction, second in a series of four, presents a role playing simulation aimed at creating a simplified setting involving college level students in the decision-making process. It is hoped that they will gain perception of the total process by examining "why" decision-makers behave as they do and reach given decisions.…

Calls for more and better teaching about the Vietnam War in secondary schools and colleges. Offers approaches to teaching about the War and presents questions designed to stimulate students' thinking. Describes the use of simulations. States that the discussion of controversial issues makes class more stimulating for both student and teacher. (KO)

This handbook contains eight classroom activities designed to increase global awareness of students. For example, one activity about increasing global interdependence involves an analysis by students of their community to determine the extent to which it is related to the activities of foreign people and foreign-made products. Objectives and…

An evaluation of the instructional materials used by high school and college students who participated in the Model United Nations Program showed that the program is uncritical of the United Nations (U.N.) and biased against the United States and the West in general. These materials are strongly promoted by many prominent educational professional…

Procedures for the operation of the Political-Military Exercise (PME) are detailed in this handbook as a means of involving political science students in the actual dynamics of international policy-making decisions through the PME game experience. Two basic designs for operating the simulation exercise are presented with a discussion of the format…

The manual consists of six easy to use simulation exercises for foreign relation classes at the secondary level. The games are designed to teach decision making skills, to sensitize students to the manner in which Americans have come to view the world, to help students understand the need to manage problems before they become too severe, and to…