Web site reference for full article appearing in International Studies Perspectives Volume 3, Number 3 (August 2002)

This article details a simulation of formulating a new international human rights treaty designed for an introductory international studies course. Student understanding and interest in a range of international relations topics - including diplomacy, two-level games, international law, human rights, and group decision-making - are reinforced by actively engaging the students in policy formulation and state-to-state negotiations.  The article is structured around the four key components of active learning approaches - educational objectives, design parameters, procedures, and assessment and debriefing - in order to provide a full understanding of the goals, setup, process, and advantages of the simulation.  The simulation has been successfully run multiple times at both a large state university and a small liberal arts institution. Supportive student feedback and an interesting variety of outcomes indicate that this simulation is a positive addition to the course and reinforces the use of active learning approaches in the international studies classroom.

Keywords: simulation, active learning, diplomacy, international law, human rights
 

Simulation Material:

Syllabus for Political Science 120: Introduction to International Relations

Position paper question

Country information

Country human rights checklist

International conference human rights checklist

Debriefing question sheet
 
 
 

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