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Case Studies in Diplomacy

In this activity, students will analyze a global issue and formulate a diplomatic strategy to address the issue.
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When a global issue arises, it is up to the entire international community to work to solve it. Diplomats work tirelessly to find solutions that benefit everyone. But how? What are the tools and ideas diplomats use to solve issues?

In this activity, students will choose critical global issues, such as conflict minerals or counterfeit trade, and develop a brief proposing a diplomatic strategy to address it. Students will learn to think like foreign policy professionals by assessing what’s been tried, identifying gaps, and recommending actionable next steps that leverage diplomatic tools effectively.

Materials & Links

Standards Alignment 

  • D4.1.9-12: Construct arguments using precise and knowledgeable claims, with evidence from multiple sources, while acknowledging counterclaims and evidentiary weaknesses.
  • D4.6.9-12: Use disciplinary and interdisciplinary lenses to understand the characteristics and causes of local, regional, and global problems; instances of such problems in multiple contexts; and challenges and opportunities faced by those trying to address these problems over time and place.
  • D4.7.9-12: Assess options for individual and collective action to address local, regional, and global problems by engaging in self-reflection, strategy identification, and complex causal reasoning.

Recommended Grade Levels 

  • 9th-12th+

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