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Omnishambles - Global Politics Simulation

Module description

This module puts you in the hot seat at a crucial moment in global politics. Based around a simulation of a crisis or conference, the module places you and your group in the role of a key actor to try to maximise your gains, fulfil your strategic goals, or even simply try to avoid an omnishambles! The module aims to provide insight into the complexities of national and global politics, including a greater appreciation of the difficulties faced by decision-makers when facing crisis or key decisions. The seminar elements cover the key policy-making stages of preparation, strategic planning, reflection, and lesson-learning.

The module is a core for the MA International Relations (IR) programme. There are no pre-requisite modules.

Module aims - intentions of the module

This module provides an experiential learning element to the MA IR programme. Thus, it complements other modules by encouraging students to bring their conceptual and empirical expertise to a simulated ‘real-world’ setting. Students will learn how to: set and realise strategic goals; work within the specific demands and constraints of an organisation; cooperate with fellow group-members and possible rival groups; work in a fast-evolving setting; reflect on individual and group performance; and identify policy lessons to take forward. The module thus prepares students for a career in the field of global politics, encouraging the development of key skills including leadership, strategic thinking, cooperation, conflict resolution, public relations, empathy, and self-reflection. The theme of the crisis or conference/summit will vary from year to year but will always focus on prominent contemporary challenges in global politics and the complexities of responding to such challenges in a multifaceted policy-making setting. Depending on the theme, the simulation can be expected to involve multimedia technologies, preparatory and in-simulation research, and the possible involvement of external expert input.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Demonstrate an understanding of the role, needs, and circumstances of a particular actor in global politics.
• 2. Evaluate the process of political decision making in a crisis or fast-moving setting.

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 3. Critically engage with the practice of competitor or rival actors.
• 4. Demonstrate an understanding of the interaction between theory and practice in global politics.

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 5. Think and plan strategically around specific organisational needs.
• 6. Debate courses of action from a particular perspective.
• 7. Critically self-reflect on practical performance in relation to preparatory planning.
• 8. Work effectively as part of a team in a high-pressure environment.

Syllabus plan

The module might involve:

• Preparatory seminars
• A two-day intensive simulation
• Reflective seminars

Seminar content might involve:

• Devising diplomatic strategy
• State diplomacy
• Non-traditional diplomacy

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Re-assessment notes

Due to the link between the Reflection Paper and the simulation itself, the Policy Review paper can be set for students who did not attend the simulation itself. This paper will require students to reflect on a real-world example of an organisation’s experience at a conference or during a crisis.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

As a simulation-based module with a theme that changes annually, readings will vary annually. However, some general useful texts include:

• Barston, RP. 2019. Modern Diplomacy. London: Routledge.
• Berridge, GR. 2022. Diplomacy: Theory and Practice. 6^th Edition. London: Palgrave Macmillan.
• Cooper, Andrew F, Jorge Heine, and Ramesh Thakur (eds.). 2015. The Oxford Handbook of Modern Diplomacy. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
• Hutchings, Robert and Jeremi Suri. 2020. Modern Diplomacy in Practice. London: Palgrave.
• Sharp, Paul. 2019. Diplomacy in the 21^st Century: A Brief Introduction. London: Routledge.
• Smith, Steve, Amelia Hadfield, and Tim Dunne. 2016. Foreign Policy: Theories, Actors, Cases. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Key words search

International Relations, simulation