initial sim proposal assignment for 220

Initial Simulation Proposal

POLS 220 - Spring 2006

Your initial simulation proposal must focus on the issues in the scenario. You should design your proposal so that it will provide you with the best opportunity to achieve your country's goals during the simulation. Conceptually, there are a number of ways to approach this project. The ones listed below are not the only ways to approach it and you are free to think of others. Your team should be consistent in its conceptual approach. If you have questions about your approach, please come to see either of us in the days ahead.

Your proposal might be viewed as a starting point/position for negotiations. In this way, your proposal is an ideal policy outcome and the negotiation process might produce compromise as you and other countries move toward mutually acceptable solutions to the problems at hand.
Your proposal might focus on the interests involved in the negotiations. This follows on the ideas in the Getting to Yes book. Using this approach, your proposal does not present an ideal policy outcome or position, but rather focuses on the stakes involved in your issue area and how you and your counterparts might proceed in carving out solutions that address the stakes and interests of the actors involved. This contrasts with the first approach where the focus is on the compromise of positions and not on the satisfaction of actor interests.
Your proposal will also need to include a policy rationale that will be private. The proposal itself will be the first set of messages you will send.

Your proposal will be graded using the following criteria and the entire team will receive one grade for the group of proposals issued by your team.

Clarity - will others understand what you are trying to achieve in your issue are? What questions are left unanswered by your proposal?
Consistency across your team's proposals - do your proposals contradict or complement those of your teammates?
Feasibility - is your proposal feasible? Remember adoption, implementation and impact and how they apply at both domestic and international bargaining levels.
Strength of Policy Proposal Rationale - in addition to the actual proposal that will be sent out over the ICONSnet system, you should also include a rationale for your chosen course of action. In contrast to the "public" proposal, this portion of the assignment will be treated as an internal policy document that describes why you are proposing what you are proposing. It should be well-argued and lay out the potential positive and negative aspects of your chosen approach. It may also include discussion of other rejected policy options.

Proposals are due at the beginning of class on Friday, March 25th.