AGS Students to Participate in International Negotiation Simulation in Beirut, Lebanon

Like every year, AGS students enrolled in the dual Master's program in International Relations, Diplomacy and Strategic Negotiation with AGS's partner institution Université Paris Sud will take part in an international negotiation simulation along with their fellow students at Paris Sud.

This year, the simulation exercise will take place in Beirut, Lebanon, on April 3-7, on the theme: "Europe and the migratory crisis". It will bring together 47 students from many different national origins, through the three participating institutions: Université Paris Sud, American Graduate School in Paris, and Sagesse University in Beirut, which will host the event.

Each student will play the part of a diplomat from a specific country, international organization, or non-governmental organization that he or she has learnt about in doing research and writing a public dossier. In doing so, students have become acquainted with the specific goals and objects to fully interiorize their entities' stakes and become cognizant of disagreements between countries and obstacles in regards to important issues.

The final objective of this simulation project is to produce a relevant legal document that address the migratory crisis, which will then be forwarded to the European institutions so that they can be aware of how such negotiation could evolve as the need for multilateral talks on this issue has become more and more urgent.

This prospective exercise is unique in the academia and aims to apprehend political and humanitarian issues with states and international organizations' rationality. It has been held every year since 1994 by Université Paris-Sud – and since 1997 with AGS students through the two institutions' dual degree partnership. Previous simulations themes and locations have included, among others: "Crisis Management in the European Union" in Brussels, Belgium (2002); "Cultural Dialogue in the Euromed Area" in Alexandria, Egypt (2007); Environment and Sustainable Development" in Athens, Greece (2008); "The Economic Francophony" in Rabat, Morocco (2014); and "Establishing a Social responsibility and Interncultural Charter for the Media" at UNESCO in Paris, France (2015).

This project needs support to help some of the students to cover their travel expenses: you can find more information here.

More information on the dual program in International Relations & Diplomacy / Diplomacy & Strategic Negotiation