SIMULATION RULES

SIMULATION RULES

I Communications and Reality

A) Normal communications must occur through emissaries (e.g. advisors, ambassadors). Chief decision-makers of differing countries cannot communicate with each other directly, unless special permission is requested from the G.O.D.* in advance; exception to this rule is granted to the United States and Russia , if those actors wish to use the "hot line". However, before utilizing the "hot line", the side initiating the communication must initially file a statement of intent with the G.O.D. The "hot-line" can only be used when it is deemed absolutely necessary to do so.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

* G.O.D. stands for grand old decision-maker, or "Nature" in the simulation, and is responsible for climactic conditions, earthquakes, general misery caused by chance elements, and occasional sunshine.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

B) Communications between the chief decision-maker and his/her personnel can be either written or oral. However, in the latter case, a brief summary of the communication must be submitted by ALL the parties involved (individually) to the G.O.D. This can be accomplished by the use of "move forms" which will be available to all participants. All written communiqués must be made in duplicate, with a copy forwarded to the G.O.D. All such written materials should be communicated electronically, whenever possible.

C) Simulated distances between decision-makers and their personnel should be respected; e.g. if you are in another capital representing a decision-maker, you cannot communicate with him/her as if he/she too were on the scene. In this case, you would have to communicate in writing (or, e-mail), or tracking down the d-m by phone, or periodically leaving the context of your activity and returning "home" for consultations.

D) Remember: Communication between actors of differing nations can also be conducted through the press, specifically the widely read and distributed CACTUS TIMES.

II The Many Roles of G.O.D.*

A) If you feel that your behavior is realistic, but that of the other actor(s) is not, consult the G.O.D. His hand is swift and strong (but hopefully fair).

B) If you feel that your behavior is realistic, but you have reservations about how realistic it will be for the G.O.D. (and you fear ultimate judgement), feel free to consult him. He is there to act as confessor, friend, shoulder to cry on, crutch, etc. However, since the simulation is an examination of sorts, he will never give you specific answers to vexing questions (e.g. "What should I do? What is the meaning of life?").

C) The G.O.D. will on occasion contribute news of "reality" to the CACTUS TIMES, a widely read publication, which will provide straight-forward, objective reporting of events, mixed with hard analysis and criticism of leaders in power, and will serve as a distribution source for press releases. The CACTUS TIMES may also convey new developments, natural disasters, unexpected events, etc. It will be published daily (if there is sufficient news), commencing with the first day of the simulation (except on weekends and holidays). Copies (at the cost of 11 glibeks, or 2100 lira) will be available on line on the class simulation web page.

D) All moves, by all participants must be communicated to the G.O.D. within 24 hours of their occurrence. However, unless the communiqué is labeled "TOP SECRET", parts, or all of the message may appear in the hands of journalists working for the CACTUS TIMES. If you are in doubt about filling out a move form, do so. If there is no move form, it means that you have not initiated (or participated in) the action, conversation, etc.

E) In relaying moves to the G.O.D., the following information must be provided: simulation role name; date and time of action; person contacted or group attended; the nature of the action, conversation, or contribution; perceived response of others to this "move"; your "signature". Forms will be available for this information. They are called "move forms". They can be filled out electronically on the simulation web page, and sent via e-mail to the G.O.D.

F) Needless to say, with the use of materials sent to him by participants, with the use of his own capabilities, and with the aid of self-evaluations, the G.O.D. will also function to distribute rewards and punishments on the appropriate judgment day (i.e., final grades).

G) The G.O.D. also functions as nature, and as final arbitrator when such is needed. For example, if two nations go to war, the G.O.D., based on what those nations did with respect to resources allocated, strategies applied, etc., will decide on numbers of casualties and the actual progress of the war. The G.O.D. will also know the outcomes of public opinion polls and stock market trends.

III The Flow of Information

There are four possible flows of information in the simulation:

Formal meetings of organizations: all these must occur during class time;
Face to face contacts (including phone calls): these (either within or between groups) can occur any time both inside and outside of class);
Electronic communication: either sending e-mail and or position papers within and between groups;
Indirectly through the newspaper: The day’s newspaper and back issues will be available on the simulation web page.

CAUTION: All move forms will be sent electronically to the G.O.D., and through the web page. Steps have been taken to ensure confidentiality. However, any tampering with either move forms intended for the G.O.D., or with e-mail not intended for you will result in expulsion from the simulation and a failing grade in the course.

IV Agenda and Activities for the Simulation

A) Day One: (Week 12, November 19)

At the conclusion of the normal class period, a scenario or two will be presented through the first issue of the CACTUS TIMES. It will probably have universal impact.

B) Preliminary to Day Two:

Each group must present to the G.O.D. a one-page (o.k., no more than two pages if necessary) position paper, responding to the situation(s) presented in the TIMES. The paper should contain the following:

1) The relationship of the situation to your group: what impact does it have on the pursuit of your goals? What impact does it have on the general strategies you utilize to pursue your goals? What problems do these situations pose for your group?

2) Perception of others: what do you expect to be the response of other nations to this situation; that is, the response of those who you think are important for the fulfillment of your goals? Given the specifics of the situation, which actors do you perceive will be hostile, and which will be friendly (or, responsive) to your planned actions?

3) Intended actions: (given your responses to points 1 and 2) what actions do you intend to pursue in the context of this (these) situation(s)? What arenas, structures, organizations (if any) do you expect to utilize for pursuing those actions? To what extent are your choices hampered by available resources, and both domestic and external constraints?

4) Probabilities: How successful will you be in the pursuit of your objectives? What seems to be the greatest "unknown(s)"; i.e. the most unpredictable elements in the situation (you must assume that all will act realistically)?

5) If you do not believe that the scenario(s) have relevance to your group, what major goals are you planning to pursue while the simulation is ongoing, and how successful do you expect to be in fulfilling those goals.

The position papers, as submitted to the G.O.D. are secret and will be kept confidential (if you indicate a desire for them to be kept as such). If possible, the position papers should be sent electronically to the G.O.D.

Of course, from the very outset, you may wish to indirectly communicate with other actors in the system. You may wish to pass on press releases to the press immediately, and you may be contacted by the press immediately. During all times of the simulation run, you must submit press releases to the press no later than 3:00PM the day prior to the paper's publication.

The position papers are the joint responsibility of the entire group of actors in each group. However, whenever conflict occurs over the appropriate answers, the chief decision-maker is given final authority. If the final decision is strongly opposed by any one or more in the group, an alternative report may be filed with the G.O.D. In turn, the G.O.D. reserves the right to throw out the chief decision-maker from office or bring similar punitive action against the dissenters, including execution, or other forms of banishment.

NOTE: the position paper will be required only for the first set of situations, and no position papers are needed thereafter. However, each group should keep a copy of the position paper it submitted to the G.O.D.

***Point of order: Attendance during class periods covering the simulation period is MANDATORY for all participants in the simulation who wish to pass the course. Class sessions are partly open-ended and can and will be utilized for a variety of purposes, including:

1) Facilitating interactions between actors;

2) Providing time for ad-hoc and regularly scheduled meetings of groups and organizations;

3) Providing time for press conferences (If you wish to hold a press conference, you must notify the newspaper one day in advance of the conference, unless it's an emergency. Then, you must seek approval from the G.O.D.). When a conference is held, participants will be able to question the actor calling the press conference, as if they were members of their own national press corps.

4) Providing additional time for consultation with the G.O.D.

5) Providing a place for the distribution of additional materials.

6) Providing time for clarification of mix-ups regarding procedures.

NOTE: when interactions involve the joint meeting of more than two nations, those interactions can occur only during class periods. However, interactions between actors of two nations can occur during either class or outside of class.

ATTENTION: agenda items for all scheduled organizational meetings must be submitted the Friday before (3:00PM) to the Cactus Times. Scheduled meetings can be cancelled, but cancellation can occur only if 1) all members of the appropriate organization agree; 2) the chair submits appropriate notification to the Times the Friday before the meeting; 3) cancellation must occur at least 24 hours in advance of the scheduled meeting. Note also that cancellation constitutes a serious "move" and it will have to be justified to the G.O.D. on a realistic basis.

By unanimous agreement, members of an organization (except for the Security Council) can also opt to hold meetings in executive session (closed to outsiders and the press) through the same procedures.

C) Day Two: (Week 13, November 26)

Scheduled: Meeting of the G-8 states, meeting in Paris . France will chair the meeting and will be responsible for the final agenda. Participating members wishing to place items on the agenda will have to provide those items to the chair. The final agenda should be reported to the Times no later than by 3:00PM the Friday prior to the meeting, and will be published by the Times on the day of the meeting.

Scheduled: Meeting of the Arab League in Damascus . Syria will chair the meeting (see information for agenda procedures).

D) Day Three: ( Week 14, December 3^rd)

Scheduled: session of the Security Council of the United Nations. The meeting will include all nations except Israel , and the Palestinian Authority. However, at the discretion of the chair, these groups can be extended observer status and the chair may call on them for comment. Chairing the meeting is China. Maximum length available for meeting: one hour and thirty minutes total.

V On Staying Realistic

Please keep a number of basic principles in mind:

In this simulation, you are not college students. You are representing your real-life counterparts, and need to act accordingly;
Moves don’t just "happen". They are planned and carefully executed responses to domestic or external stimuli. Note the emphasis on planning (i.e., deliberation);
Verbal "behavior" is as much planned as anything else. Be careful of what you say and how you say it.
There is a logical chain to events. For example, you cannot go to war, unless first you have mobilized troops and made them ready. If you didn’t, you simply cannot use force until you’ve taken the necessary steps to make it happen.
You cannot use resources you don’t have. Albania cannot use nuclear weapons against China because it doesn’t have nuclear weapons.
You must clearly specify the nature of your actions. For example, if you sign an agreement or a treaty with another country, you must clearly identify the resources, etc., you are committing with the treaty or agreement.
When you are involved in a meeting of an organization, remember that you cannot go into the meeting unprepared. This means that you should have thought out in advance what you are going to try to accomplish, and why, and how you are going to achieve those goals, including lobbying other countries in advance of the meeting.

BACK TO POL 365