Focused on geopolitics, students in the International Relations course at VRG participated in the Folk och Försvars role play, “Minister for the Day” at the Army Museum in Stockholm.
After a short introduction to the countries of Amaso, Bati, Cindro, Dometo and Estrigi; the game started. The first step was for all of the countries to write a declaration of their governing principles and allocate ministers for the important roles. Then, the different declarations were explained to the other countries by the different Foreign Ministers during the Regional Council. The interest in this step was great and the event was full of journalists.
At the same time that the different ministers promoted their own country’s sovereignty and 
welfare state, different scenarios of terrorist attacks, epidemics, and even a natural disaster hit the region. The question of how to care for the common environment was always present and even more complicated when a large oil resource was discovered on the region’s central islands located in international water.
The ministers from the different countries met and negotiated exchange, cooperation and military alliances. Conflicts were near. Estrgi used their ideological and cultural power. And, there was a struggle with how to deal with Bati’s dictator who didn’t wish to follow the agreed upon rules and norms. 
Reaching agreement in these important questions proved difficult. Media teams updated news from the different countries continuously.
The game went on with many turns and complications. The game ended abruptly with many speculations about how the politics would have developed if we had kept going. Some believed war was inevitable …
Our moderator and leader for the day, Ana-Sofia finished off with reflections relating this simulation game to the real security issues of today. Democracy and dictatorship, Sweden’s relationship with Palestine, and current relations with Russia were all discussed …
Thanks to Birgit Carlsson for organizing such an engaging visit!
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