Using Simulation as a Tool to Teach About International Negotiation

This article focuses on the use of simulations as a tool to teach students about international negotiations. The basic premise is that simulations can be an effective teaching tool because they engage students and make them active participants in the learning process. The objective of these simulations is not to train students to be professional negotiators, but rather to provide a solid grounding which will enable them to better understand the process of international negotiation. Although there can be problems associated with using simulations, I argue that the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks. In this article, ICONS, a computer-assisted simulation of international negotiation, is compared with different approaches to teaching about international negotiations, including other simulations which do not involve the use of technology.