CRISP -

Omaria - Regional Integration

Focusing on regional socio-economic and political integration and deals with the complex challenges that regional organizations are confronted with.

This simulation game focuses on regional socio-economic and political integration and deals with the complex challenges that a regional organization is confronted with. The setting is the yearly summit of a fictitious regional organization in a fictitious region. In the course of the organization´s existence, the wish for an advanced integration in certain thematic fields occurred and initial agreements were reached concerning the adherence to democratic principles, the freedom of movement and the wish for an increased cooperation concerning common challenges such as adaption to climate change. This year´s summit is therefore considered by many observers and political analysts as a decisive point for the future of the organization and it seems clear that the member states are willing to tackle several controversial topics to mark a clear pathway for future development.  

Scenario & Procedure

The participants step into roles as member state delegates to the regional organization. Their task is to discuss three topics: freedom of movement (A), democratic standards and supranational institutions (B) and climate change (C). Regarding freedom of movement, the delegates discuss the effectiveness of current agreements and the possibility of revision. Whether mandatory democratic standards should be devised and supranational institutions built, and concurrently, whether violations of democratic standards should be sanctioned is the second topic. Lastly, the delegates discuss the formation of an agency for climate change within the organization.

The simulation game starts with the status quo and simulates the annual summit 2018. During the simulation game the participants try to identify the different interests and arrange them in order to eventually create a roadmap that describes a possible future scenario for OMARIA. The game is based on multiple rounds meaning that in case there is no decision or consensus at the end, the simulation finishes with the last developments of negotiations. The simulation game consists of two days. During the first day, the participants discuss the most crucial issues regarding the future of the organization: freedom of movement (A) and democratic standards and supranational institutions (B).  At the end of day one a decision should also be taken about a possible suspension of one of the member states from the union. The second day starts with the member states of ORIO discussing the final topic climate change (C) as well as the final declaration of the summit.  At the end of the negotiation process and the final summit will be a final press conference, attended by all actors.

Objectives

The simulation allows participants to exploring the decision making process within a regional organization. The simulation game not only clarifies the interests and objectives of the different member states of ORIO, but also makes the conflict dynamics come alive. By playing their roles the participants can discover new aspects of regional issues and thus gather new ideas on conflict resolution. During evaluation the course of the simulation can be analyzed and the decisive factors for compromise are determined.

Learning Goals
  • insight into the workings of a regional organizationdeveloping
  • innovative initiatives and problem solving approaches
  • gaining experience in combining conflicting interests and viewpoints while reaching for a common goal
  • to get to know and form an opinion on the future of the ORIOengage with the values and core ideas of regional integration to learn about the different political interests of developing countries