Simulating Crises: A Peacekeeping Teaching Technique

Teaching the practical aspects of peacekeeping is an activity that is mainly restricted to military staff colleges. However, for a number of years, students studying for the LL.M in International Human Rights Law and the MA in The Theory and Practice of Human Rights at the University of Essex (United Kingdom) have had the opportunity to participate in a unique exercise which is designed to examine the practical dilemmas faced by military and civilian personnel deployed as a part of peace support operations. This exercise, know as the SIMULEX, is staged at Colchester Garrison, headquarters of the 16 Air Assault Brigade. The SIMULEX provides participants with an opportunity to act out a number of scenarios which civilian and military personnel are likely to face when working within the context of peace support operations. Students and participating military personnel are assigned various "roles" and they engage in a number of joint problem solving exercises which are conceived with the aim of providing students with a real taste of the tough dilemmas faced by civilian and military personnel working on the ground and with the intention of fostering mutual understanding of the military and civilian perspectives. The origins, evolution and value of the SIMULEX as a teaching technique are described in this article. * Elizabeth Griffin, Lecturer in International Human Rights, Law Department of Essex University. Dr. Anthony Verrier, former Director, MAin International Peacekeeping, Essex University.