POLS 220 - Final Exam Assignment

Dr. Mark A. Boyer

Spring 2006

In 3-4 typed double-spaced pages, think about the simulation activities and how they related to the first half of the course. Be as specific as you can be about the particular events in the simulation and feel free to refer to actual situations and message numbers contained on ICONSnet (you should cite messages by number and/or conference if you do this).

The second task is to choose a theoretical construct from the first half of the class to use as a structuring concept for your essay. You might recall the following concepts as possible choices: two-level negotiations, the pre-theory of foreign policy, the policy process and its relation to adoption, implementation and impact, systemic constraints on negotiation, etc. You may also recall others I have neglected to list here. Using the theory or set of concepts you have chosen, can you explain your success or failure in achieving your goals? Start by explaining your simulation experience by using the theory (like in the case memo assignments...remember them??), but if the theory doesn't help you explain success or failure, then discuss why it doesn't work. What happened in the simulation to make theory irrelevant (or at least doesn't help us explain what happens in the "real" world)?

A few other possible ways of thinking about this assignment follow. Please note that these are just ideas and NOT THE ONLY WAYS to think about the assignment.

• In what ways did your negotiating strategies parallel those we read about and discussed in class? If they did parallel, did they produce similar results? Why or why not? You are free to refer to specific cases we discussed.
• In what ways were certain issues more or less prominent in the simulation? Were the prominent issues the same ones that are prominent in the real world? Why or why not? What explanations can you give for prominence or non-prominence? Couch your explanation in a theoretical or conceptual way.
• Did any of the issues or situations you encountered during the simulation display characteristics of any of the model games we discussed earlier? Prisoners' dilemmas? Chicken? Zero-sum vs. variable sum? Sequential vs. simultaneous decision-making? Others? Explain the parallels between the simulation and game theory. Did the strategy of games lend any insight into your own thinking about what to do in the simulation?
• Did you use commitments of some sort to convey your stakes to other ICONS participants? In what ways? To what effects? Why?
• What about linkage, coercion, persuasion, assurance, etc? How were they used and when? Were they successful? Did you find some strategies better than others? Why?
• In what ways did the volume of information inhibit your ability to work as effective decision-makers? What strategies did you apply internal to your team to deal with the problems of managing information and uncertainty? How do these strategies parallel decision-making in real-world countries?

As always, if you have questions, please ask. Come to see me, send me an email. I'm also happy to read drafts in whatever form, as long as I get the draft in enough time before the exam assignment is due.

LATE ESSAYS: Late penalties will be assessed starting immediately after 12:30 PM on 5/5/05   For each day late (starting at 12:31 PM on 5/5), 5 points is lost off the exam grade.