PSCI 3510
TERRORISM AND
POLITICAL VIOLENCE
SIMULATION
UN Counter-Terrorism Committee/Security Council Simulation
Contents (scroll down to find each section)
Overview
Countries
Roles
Writing Assignment #1
Writing Assignment #2
Preparation for Simulation
Procedural Rules for Debate
Instructions For All Writing Assignments
Overview
The class will undertake a simulation of the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Committee/Security Council (UNSC) debate on terrorism and counter-terrorism measures. (The Counter-Terrorism Committee has the same membership as the Security Council.) In order to do well, you will have to research your roles so that you can accurately adopt the persona of the country you represent. For the time we are in simulation, you are no longer a student in Kalamazoo, Michigan. You are your country's permanent representative ("ambassador") to the United Nations.
There are 30 students in the class. The Security Council is made up of 15 members, five permanent and ten rotating. Fifteen other countries critical to the issues of terrorism and counter-terrorism are invited to participate in the deliberations but do not have a vote.
The goal of the simulation is for the UNSC to pass one or more resolutions on counter-terrorism policy.
Items for deliberation:
You'll find a link to research resources below ("research guidelines"), but one site you'll certainly want to consult is a log of decisions regarding terrorism made by the UN as reported by Security Council Reports.
Country Roles
Belgium* - Curran | Poland* - Rader | Kenya - Ross |
China** - Barkel | Russia** - Lee | Mali - Paulson |
Cote d'Ivoire* - Walker | South Africa* - Tillman | Nigeria - McCrary |
Dominican Republic* - Corey | United Kingdom** - King | Pakistan - Norman |
Equatorial Guinea* - Craven | United States** - Walton-Case | Philippines - Pajtas |
France** - Hagel | Canada - Phaneuf | Qatar - Melchor-Magallon |
Germany* - Kainrath | Egypt - Doyle | Saudi Arabia - Quandt |
Indonesia* - Fernandez | India - Montagno | Syria - Cochran |
Kuwait* - Varney | Iran - Brennan | Turkey - Lawantrakool |
Peru* - Stoll | Israel - Showers | Ukraine - Luczkowski |
* Security Council | ** P5 |
Source Material
Google searching is not enough. Google's algorithm cannot be relied on to link to sources that are either reputable or useful. A more productive approach is to be familiar with source material. Since you are likely not reading foreign policy news and reports on a regular basis, I'm suggesting some good sources. I have indicated the conventional wisdom about political orientation. Note, however, that news sources in the US that tend liberal sometimes do not stray from official foreign policy, especially on issues as emotional as terrorism.
Writing Assignment #1 - Annotated Bibliography: Due Saturday, November 2 at 11:59 pm.
Your first assignment is an annotated bibliography. Concentrate on these questions:
Your bibliography will include two types of sources:
Part I: Scholarly and "Gray" Literature
By "scholarly literature," I am referring to peer-reviewed journal articles about your assignment. You will find these by using the library databases that Maria Perez-Stable showed you in class on Monday, February 25. "Gray literature" is not peer-reviewed but comes from reputable foundations, think tanks, international organizations, and other NGOs. These are not necessarily neutral sources and may very well take a side, but they are known for their adherence to the norms of research (i.e., backing up conclusions with evidence).
Undertake a search for peer reveiwed sources as instructed during the October 1 class session. Find at least six scholarly (and gray literature) sources. NOTE: of these six, at least three must be peer-reviewed sources accessible through the library databases.
Part II: News articles and analysis.
Look up news stories using Google News and/or Yahoo News (they bring up different results), and/or look at sites on the "research guidelines" page. Find at least six substantive articles (i.e., more than a brief mention of a terrorist act).
Annotations
Refer to "How to write an annotated bibliography." Each annotation should be 100-150 words. Address the following (if they are appropriate) along with anything else you deem important. DON'T COPY AND PASTE EVEN ONE SENTENCE OR PHRASE (that's called plagiarism and will get you an E for your course grade!).
Format
Heading in upper right corner: name and date only. No title page.
Section I: Scholarly Sources and Gray Literature
First source:
Full citation in proper style (see source page for link to citation styles).
Annotation paragraph.
Second source:
Full citation in proper style.
Annotation paragraph.
And so on...
Section I: News Sources
First source:
Full citation in proper style (see source page for link to citation styles).
Annotation paragraph.
Second source:
Full citation in proper style.
Annotation paragraph.
And so on...
NOTE (important): See "Instructions for all writing assignments" below.
Writing Assignment #2 - Position Papers: Due Saturday, November 16 at 11:59 pm.
Each delegate will write two position papers in response to the Secretary-General's report, "Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism" from December 24, 2015. The papers will address the two items for deliberation noted in the Overview above:
Instructions for position papers
Sample position papers:
Published Position Papers
Download all papers as a zip file (caution: file is nearly 4 mb). Papers turned in after the deadline are not part of the zip file but can be accessed below.
Position Paper #1 | Position Paper #2 |
Belgium (Curran) | Belgium (Curran) |
China (Barkel) | China (Barkel) |
Cote d'Ivoire (Walker) | Cote d'Ivoire (Walker) |
Dominican Republic (Corey) | Dominican Republic (Corey) |
France (Hagel) | France (Hagel) |
Germany (Kainrath) | Germany (Kainrath) |
Indonesia (Fernandez) | Indonesia (Fernandez) |
Kuwait (Varney) | Kuwait (Varney) |
Peru (Stoll) | Peru (Stoll) |
Poland (Rader) | Poland (Rader) |
Russia (Lee) | Russia (Lee) |
South Africa (Tillman) | South Africa (Tillman) |
United Kingdom (King) | United Kingdom (King) |
United States (Walton-Case) | United States (Walton-Case) |
Canada (Phaneuf) | Canada (Phaneuf) |
Egypt (Doyle) | Egypt (Doyle) |
India (Montagno) | India (Montagno) |
Iran (Brennan) | Iran (Brennan) |
Israel (Showers) | Israel (Showers) |
Kenya (Ross) | Kenya (Ross) |
Mali (Paulson) | Mali (Paulson) |
Nigeria (McCrary) | Nigeria (McCrary) |
Pakistan (Norman) | Pakistan (Norman) |
Philippines (Pajtas) | Philippines (Pajtas) |
Qatar (Melchor-Magallon) | Qatar (Melchor-Magallon) |
Saudi Arabia (Quandt) | Saudi Arabia (Quandt) |
Syria (Cochran) | Syria (Cochran) |
Turkey (Lawantrakool) | Turkey (Lawantrakool) |
Ukraine (Luczkowski) | Ukraine (Luczkowski) |
Preparation for Simulation
There are several steps you need to take to be prepared.
Keys to success:
Procedural Rules for Debate
Click here for detailed guidelines for the conduct and rules of the simulation as well as the grading criteria.
Instructions For All Writing Assignments
Submitting assignments
Explicit instructions
Citation Style
Political science uses Chicago style. But for our papers, you can use any of the three major styles: Chicago, MLA or APA. But note: BE CONSISTENT, and DO NOT make up your own style. You may find it easiest to use a site that automatically formats your entries such as Knightcite.
Grading Scale for AssignmentS #1 & #2
Grade | Points |
A | 112-120 |
BA | 106-111 |
B | 100-105 |
CB | 94-99 |
C | 88-93 |
DC | 82-87 |
D | 72-81 |
E | <72 |
Grading Scale for Simulation
Grade | Points |
A | 102-110 |
BA | 97-101 |
B | 91-96 |
CB | 86-90 |
C | 80-85 |
DC | 75-79 |
D | 66-74 |
E | <66 |