Summer quarter for many Jackson School and other University of Washington students often means travel, study or an internship abroad. But for 40 UW students who stayed in Seattle in early July, it meant working to defuse the developing crisis in the South China Sea.
Thanks to a partnership between the Jackson School of International Studies Master of Arts in Applied International Studies (MAAIS) and the U.S. Army War College, students from the Jackson School, Foster School of Business, Law, Evans School of Public Policy and Governance and other departments engaged in a real-case scenario negotiation simulation, tackling a major global challenge, in this instance, the conflicting claims over control of the South China Sea by China, Vietnam and the Philippines.
The U.S., Indonesia, India and Japan are other countries involved in the current negotiation over the South China Sea.
Students representing the United States delegation as part of the International Strategic Crisis Negotiation Exercise, a capstone course for the Jackson School’s master’s in applied international studies, listen to the perspective of other countries who tackled the crisis in the South China Sea in the “After Action Review”, held on July 9, 2016 at UW Club.
Held at the Jackson School as a capstone course and developed and executed by the U.S. Army War College, this annual two-day International Strategic Crisis Negotiation Exercise, or ISCNE, is used to prepare diplomats, military leaders, and foreign affairs practitioners across the U.S. to work on real-world international political and security issues.
“The International Strategic Crisis Negotiation Exercise simulates a complex multiparty negotiation. It provides students the opportunity to work on an issue of strategic global importance, and allows them to practice their leadership and negotiating skills within an intense, challenging environment,” said Jennifer Butte-Dahl, director of the Jackson School master’s in applied international studies. “It also gives students significant face time with high-level diplomats, military and business leaders who act as advisors to each country team.”
Applying theory to practice
Students are given strict negotiating instructions for their case scenario, which is set against the backdrop of a United Nations Summit. During the exercise they are called upon to make difficult choices under time pressure, and communicate their positions via face-to-face meetings, press releases and diplomatic communiqués.
They will have already spent the previous two weeks meeting and conducting research in their respective assigned country delegation so when the negotiation begins, they represent not only the agenda of the country to which they are assigned, but also reflect the histories and cultures of their respective nations.
“The International Strategic Crisis Negotiation Exercise really is to develop strategic mindedness — critical thinking, thinking in time, and cultural awareness,” said Deputy Director of the Center for Strategic Leadership Sam E. White, who oversaw this year’s Jackson School exercise. “For students in international relations, this is very important to understand,” he noted. “This exercise is a vehicle to develop strategic leaders.”
The students also interact with key officials who are role-playing high-level guests, such as a United Nations Special Representative, Foreign Minister or a Secretary of State, and receive advice from high-level mentors with country-specific background and global crisis negotiation experience.
One of the mentors, I Corps Joint Base Louis-McChord Colonel Christopher Wendland, emphasized the negotiation exercise is also about learning non-verbal cues. “For example, by accepting a side meeting with one country and not another, what does that signal? Non-verbal cues are just as important.”
Ambassador Thomas R. Pickering, who also has served as Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs during the Clinton Administration, speaks to students about his experience in international negotiation strategy on July 9, 2016 at UW Club.
This year U.S. Ambassador Thomas R. Pickering, a seven-time Ambassador, who also served as Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs during the Clinton Administration, acted as a United Nations Special Representative to mediate the talks.
The mentor roster included representatives from:
- I Corps at Joint-Base Louis-McChord
- The U.S. Foreign Service
- Washington State China Relations Council, represented by President Kristi Heim (M.A., China Studies)
- Booz Allen Hamilton
- The Jackson School of International Studies
UW is first on the West Coast
“When looking at the West Coast to conduct this program, the Jackson School jumped out at us,” said White. “We look at programs that have a good reputation and that share the vision that the Army War College does: of producing leaders for service in national security. The Jackson School was our pivot to the Pacific Northwest.”
Started over 11 years ago, the exercise has reached over 1,900 students and national security practitioners.
“I volunteer for this simulation exercise because as a negotiator for the military, I’ve been there. I have had those same emotions as the students — and it is also an opportunity for me to learn from them and their reactions,” said I Corps Joint Base Louis-McChord Colonel Christopher Wendland.
The International Strategic Crisis Negotiation Exercise is funded, in part, by sponsorship from Booz Allen Hamilton, a strategy and technology consulting firm.
