fandomhigh | Practical Diplomacy, Friday

Entry tags:

diplomacy

Practical Diplomacy, Friday

"Today we're going to talk about the diplomatic problem of someone not stepping down after they've been deposed," Anakin said.

"Imagine a neighboring country has seen its first democratic elections in many decades," Obi-Wan said. "For a moment, it look as if the dictator is willing to step aside peacefully. But then he changes his mind."

"How would you try to negotiate to avoid violence?" Anakin asked. "Is it even possible?"

"Or is avoiding violence genuinely your ultimate goal?" Obi-Wan said. "Your forces are much stronger than this nation's. The sitting dictator claims there were 'inaccuracies' in the vote... do you let him fly past with such a rationale?"

As he finished speaking, he began to hand out packages of information on The Gambia. "Please form a team with another student, representing another concerned nation, and discuss."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Like it's a good inauguration day, not a bad.

Peridot

Hyacinthe

Isabela

Ahsoka Tano

Ada Miller

Frank Doyle

Gratuity Tucci

And don't forget to read your handouts.

Hyacinthe read through the handout, not understanding a good number of the terms. What was Neo-colonialism? Islamic republic? AIDS?

If he'd had a better grasp of such things, he would have declared something along the lines of "All y'all need Elua."

But fancily.

"You look confused," Anakin said.

"I do not understand most of this," Hyacinthe confessed, a bit sheepishly. "I am not entirely certain what 'voting' has to do with ruling a country in the first place."

He was no scholar and Phedre hadn't spent much time discussing the politics of the ancient Hellenes or the Tiberium empire with him.

"You don't have a democracy at home," Anakin said, nodding. "Monarchy?" he guessed.

Hycinthe nodded. "I do not know of a country back home that does not have a monarchy, save Skaldia, but they are a nation of warring tribes."

True, some of the countries called their leaders different things, but it all boiled down to a ruler for life chosen via bloodline.

"My first wife was from a monarchy," Anakin said, "but she was elected to the post. It was very confusing."

Very, very confusing.

"In a democratic government, all eligible voters--normally decided by age, but in more restrictive places it can also be determined by gender, color, or number of appendages--vote for individuals who have decided for themselves that they would like to serve the public through governing. Whoever has the most votes wins. In the case today, the man with the least votes was formerly in charge and is refusing to step down."

"...But who is surprised by such a thing?" Hyacinthe asked, confused. "The nobles I've met, they are preoccupied with keeping the wealth and power they have and trying to increase both. Only children would expect someone who wanted power to give it up freely."

"Democracies have a long tradition of having...slightly more mature people in power who will then leave when they are no longer in charge."

Hyacinthe didn't look convinced. His expression was decidedly If You Say So.

"But how is it my place to step in if I do not like the way another ruler behaves?" he asked instead. "Surely I'd not wished to be interfered with, were our roles reversed."

"Because in a democracy, that ruler works for you," Anakin said.

Yeah, that expression was only getting moreso.

"Truly," he said. Flatly. "Works for me."

Well, this was a cheery subject that left Ahsoka completely optimistic about the state of the galaxy.

With Frank's epic bender settled back into his normal level of bender, he had officially made it to both classes this week, likely through sheer dumb luck. He didn't know the class topic when he walked in and sat down, but that wasn't about to stop him from learning or celebrating that learning with a drink.

How would you step in to resolve the situation? Do you even want to get involved? If you do, will you try military force or not?

You and your partner play the leaders of two concerned neighboring countries. Come to a plan.

Obi-Wan's looking faintly thoughtful.

Anakin was also learning, pursing his lips thoughtfully at the information packet. "Why does the country have a the in its name?" he asked.

"Apparently, so it wouldn't be confused with Zambia," Obi-Wan offered.

"Which is different than Namibia," Anakin said slowly. "Why do they have so many different names?"

"Because there are many nations on this planet?" Obi-Wan offered.

"Too many," Anakin huffed.

"You should have thought of that before you settled here," said Obi-Wan, with barely-concealed amusement.

Anakin made a face at him. "Well, I did, but apparently calling the United Nations to complain gets me laughed at."

Go figure.

I've been focusing more on the situation in The Gambia lately because it's less depressing than the US, go figure.

Edited 2017-01-20 17:43 (UTC)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Practical Diplomacy, Friday

Sign In!

Re: Sign In!

Re: Sign In!

Re: Sign In!

Re: Sign In!

Re: Sign In!

Re: Sign In!

Re: Sign In!

Listen to the Lecture

Re: Listen to the Lecture

Re: Listen to the Lecture

Re: Listen to the Lecture

Re: Listen to the Lecture

Re: Listen to the Lecture

Re: Listen to the Lecture

Re: Listen to the Lecture

Re: Listen to the Lecture

Re: Listen to the Lecture

Re: Listen to the Lecture

Re: Listen to the Lecture

Re: Listen to the Lecture

Re: Listen to the Lecture

Find A Partner and Discuss

Talk to the Teachers

Re: Talk to the Teachers

Re: Talk to the Teachers

Re: Talk to the Teachers

Re: Talk to the Teachers

Re: Talk to the Teachers

Re: Talk to the Teachers

Re: Talk to the Teachers

OOC