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Political science students take on the world at Eurosim
By SUE WUETCHER
Reporter Editor
Their task was clear: To assume the roles of politicians from Sweden and Bulgaria and consider, modify and ultimately ratify the draft constitution for the European Union (EU) that had been proposed by the European Convention.
But unlike their "real-life" counterparts, 13 UB political science students and their peers from other U.S. and European universities participating in Eurosim 2004 were able to adopt a new constitution for the EU, and in the process, learned a valuable lesson in decision-making and cooperation on the international level.
Eurosim, which this year was held Jan. 8-11 at the Faculty of Law of the University of Tilburg in the Netherlands, is sponsored by the Trans-Atlantic Consortium for European Union Studies and Simulations (TACEUSS), a multi-university consortium based at Fredonia State College with member institutions in Europe and the U.S.
UB has participated in these annual simulations of decision-making in the EU for more than a decade, says Munroe Eagles, associate professor of political science and faculty advisor to the students. The venues for the simulations alternate annually between Fredonia and an institution in Europe, he notes, adding that this year's event was the first hosted by the University of Tilburg.
The topic and organizational framework for these meetings are worked out in advance by scholars from institutions on both sides of the Atlantic, including some of the world's most respected experts on the politics of the EU, Eagles says.
The topics of the past two simulations have paralleled closely the unprecedented, real-life developments in the EU, he said. Last year's simulation, held at Fredonia, focused on the European Convention that was established to draw up a draft constitution for the EU, which is set to take in 10 new member countries this May. This year's simulation was based on the follow-up, "intergovernmental conference" (IGC) that was held in Brussels last December to ratify the draft constitution proposed by the European Convention.
And interestingly, the outcomes of those simulations contrasted with those of the real-life events they mirror, he says. While the "real-life" European Convention was successful in adopting a draft constitution, the simulation of the European Convention held in Fredonia failed to reach agreement on a draft document. "This year, undeterred by the real-life failure of the heads of state of the member states to adopt the draft constitution at their December meeting, our simulation participants successfully adopted a new constitution for the EU."
Why simulate events happening in the EU?
"The European Union represents one of the most significant examples of institutionalized inter- and supranational cooperation in the contemporary world," Eagles points out. "Rising from the ashes of post-World War II Europe, the EU has grown in size and scope." There currently are 370 million residents in 15 member states in the EU, and with 10 more countries expected to become members of the EU in May, its population will grow to more than 500 million citizens, he estimated.
Participation in Eurosim has proven to be a beneficial experience for the UB students on many levels, Eagles says.
"They learn a great deal about the workings of the European Union, both in preparing for their roles in the simulation and in taking part in a program that is designed to be as close to the 'real-world' European Union setting as possible," he says. "They develop negotiation and interpersonal skills. They also enjoy an opportunity to work and socialize with students from all over Europe and the United States."
More than 200 students from the U.S., European universities and Bogadizi University in Turkey attended Eurosim 2004. The U.S. students were primarily from New York State institutions, although students from Drake University in Iowa and Widener University in Pennsylvania also attended.
Moreover, the location of Eurosim 2004 in the Netherlands provided students with the opportunity to travel in Europe, he added.
The 13 UB students—the university's largest delegation ever to take part in these EU simulations—raised money to subsidize their participation from the College of Arts and Sciences, the Department of Political Science, the Political Science Undergraduate Student Association and the UB Student Association.