September 12-16, 2005


At the Civil Society Institute


Peacebuilding and Conflict
Resolution Resource Center


Yerevan, ARMENIA

The mission was to resolve all conflicts. The goal was to achieve this without
starting any wars. How possible is this? For the sixteen young Armenians who
participated in this conflict resolution game, it was not only possible but
quite feasible.

From September 12-16, 2005, approximately sixteen
young people participated in a conflict resolution game
entitled “Nations: A Simulation Game in International
Politics.”¹ Most of the participants referred to this game as
the “Lostralia game”, as this was the name of the imaginary
continent in which these conflicts took place.
Lostralia is an imaginary continent with seven
imaginary nation-states. The participants were split into
these nation-states and were assigned one task- resolve all
conflicts. Whether it was a land dispute, political or
religious conflict or a disagreement over control of fishing
waters, the participants needed to find ways to negotiate
with one another in order to resolve their issues. The goal
of this game is to understand the position of these actors
within the conflicts. Every nation has its unique history,
values and beliefs. The participants must adhere to these values and beliefs of
their nations while simultaneously working to compromise and reach resolutions
over their disputes. Thus, they must act out of the national interest and cannot
betray this. In addition to the seven nations exists a national body known as
the World Council. I, myself represented this body which acts as the mediator of
all of these nations and works practically like the United Nations. Ultimately,
every nation is required to report to the World Council.

The original case study of “Nations: A Simulation Game in International
Politics” was written in English and published by Georgetown University’s
Institute for the Study of Diplomacy in Washington D.C. It has been translated
into Armenian so that the participants could understand it. The game was also
conducted in Armenian, as this was the language which was most appropriate for
the participants.

In the end, all of the conflicts in the imaginary world of Lostralia were
resolved. While waging war against another country was one of the ways in which
the nations were able to resolve a conflict, in this particular instance not one
of the nations chose to utilize this option. Most if not all conflicts among the
nations were resolved and the participants were able to participate in
diplomatic tactics as well as conduct economic trade activities.

To quote an opinion expressed by one of the participants (translated from
Armenian to English) who explained, “ To me, the most important lesson learned
from this game is that no matter what issue, no matter what problem, all of this
is possible to resolve in a round table forum without the use of physical
force.”

As the mediator of this game, the World Council is not involved in any of the
conflicts and must remain unbiased throughout the entire process of the game. I
stood back and observed from an “outsider perspective.”
Initially, I never thought the participants would be
so involved. I was actually taken aback to see how
energetic and enthusiastic they were about this
game. They wanted to conduct trade,
communicate and engage with everyone as much
as possible. Some of the participants knew one
another before while others did not. In the end, it
did not matter because this game brought together
everyone. They not only shared stories and jokes,
but they left the office hoping to see each other
soon and seeking to continue the game outside of the Civil Society Institute’s
office.

On Friday September 16th, what was supposed to be the last day, the participants
shared their enthusiasm and desire to continue this game. They have proposed to
establish one united government in which all of the nations would be involved in
an institution like the United Nations. Thus, in the weeks to come they will not
continue to play the simulation game but will seek to establish their own rules,
their own world government in order to achieve peace.

As a Fulbright scholar, my
research in Armenia is focused on studying the youth’s involvement in civil
society groups such as Civil Society Institute and Peacebuilding and Conflict
Resolution Resource Center. I never thought I would become involved in actually
fostering this connection. I have been in this country for a little over one
month now and I am starting to realize that this Fulbright adventure has only
just begun.

¹ Herzig, Michael and David Skidmore. “Nations: A Simulation Game
in International Politics.” Pew Case Studies in International Affairs Case
169. Institute for the Study of Diplomacy, Georgetown Univ. Washington D.C.
1995