National security online simulation

This mission has two parts—the first part has a domestic focus, while the second has an international focus. You must successfully complete part one before you can advance to part two.

In part one, you have three objectives:

1. Comprehend your own IR perspective.

2. Analyze profiles of key NSC members and identify their IR perspectives.

3. Analyze current US policy documents and identify the IR perspectives woven throughout.

(After completing first objective)

Now take a few minutes to review the continuity notebook and get up to speed on the key members of the National Security Council. In addition to understanding their roles and backgrounds, it’s important to be aware of the IR perspectives of the people for whom you will be preparing your recommendations. As you read each profile, select the school of International Relations Theory you think best matches each person’s profile.

(After completing second objective)

The final step in part one is to look at some excerpts from the current (2010) US National Security Strategy (NSS). As you read the excerpts, determine which of the three schools of International Relations Theory each passage resembles most closely. You should select three passages for each theory: Realist, Liberalist, and Constructivist. As you’ll see from these passages, no policy document falls squarely into one IR camp or another, but various perspectives are discernible throughout the policy.

(After completing IR exercise)

In part two, you will write a statement for the boss recommending what actions the United States should take in response to the Russian-Venezuelan scenario.

You have three objectives:

1. Review the current situation and related policies, resources, and objectives.

2. Consider the possible actions recommended by the various departments.

3. Select the two recommendations from each department that are most consistent with US policy guidance, support US objectives, and balance the concerns of other stakeholders.