Our first in-class simulation was similar in many ways to some experience I had in high school with Model United Nations. Participating in a simplified version of a real international issue helps everyone to understand how the multiple parties, conflicted interests, and complicated problems all interact. By putting ourselves into the situation, our perspectives shifted and became much more in tune with and aware of the real situation. We learned not just the details of the issues that Nigeria faces, but also the institutions and motives at play.
When it comes to these to big lessons, I think that the latter half will play a bigger role in our continued education. What PTJ said at the end of class about each group not catering to their audience (the US President) as much as they should have, we all realized that in the real world, foreign policy is largely dictated by what appears best, rather than what actually is best to solve a problem. What the simulation accomplished, beyond its surface-level teachings, is making us aware of how much Machiavelli's arguments about self-interest and appearances still matter in decisions countries make.
This can be extended to the decisions we make in our own lives in some ways. Although it doesn't have the same connotation or context, asking the question "Are we doing things because we really want to/because its right or because of the appearance we will have/reputation we will gain?" is an important distinction to make. This is something all of us can think about moving forward.
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