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The U.S. Role in the World
INQUIRY was developed in 1991 by EPIIC and it provides a unique opportunity for high school students to participate in an intellectual and challenging simulation on an important international issue. The program's goal is to facilitate the understanding of compelling issues of global and domestic concern through investigative methods and role-playing simulations. Important emphases of INQUIRY are preparing students for global citizenship and leadership and educating them to make critical assessments of national interests.
Dear Delegates,
We are looking forward to welcoming you to this critical and timely conference on "The Future of the Middle East and the Role of the United States." Below are the questions that we will be discussing during the weekend -- please consider them carefully.
We also request that each delegation prepare a 3-4 minute opening statement addressing what your country or organization hopes to see emerge from these deliberations -- specifically focusing on your goals and what you see as your role in effecting their outcome.
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… In 2003, the President of the United States issued what many saw as a bold policy statement, stating that the U.S. is committed to creating democracy in the Middle East. Some say that true democracy must come from internal revolution or reform. They say that if true democracy is to arise, society must be radically altered not only with the consent of members of the society but actually by the members of society. Others argue that foreign imposed quasi-democracy is a necessary first step and a better alternative in the short term, given concerns that full democracy in the short term may bring to power leaders and regimes that ultimately oppose ideals of democracy (one person, one vote, one time). What is your position on democratic reform in the Middle East? Given the influence of religion in many countries, what role, if any, should religion play? What should be the role of the US in encouraging or imposing democratic reform?
The delegates are asked to submit recommendations for democratic reform in the Middle East.
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… The ongoing situation in Iraq has highlighted the difficulties in nationbuilding, from establishing an interim and permanent government, to writing a constitution, to the role of external actors in determining the future of another country, to the concerns of the local population.
The delegates are asked to critique the efforts in Iraq and develop a list of criteria that officials should take into consideration when undertaking a nationbuilding activity.
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… Currently, the largest number of forces in Iraq are from the US, Britain, and Poland. Because it is a US-led "coalition of the willing", rather than a United Nations mission, available troops are more limited than in the current operation in Afghanistan or in the Persian Gulf War of 1990. Increasingly, private military organizations have been hired to perform a range of security operations for the US leadership there as well as corporations operating working in Iraq. The recent mutilation of four members of Blackwater, a US-based private military corporation, has brought this issue to light. It is estimated that there are 15,000 private military corporation employees in Iraq. Is the role performed by the PVC's really one for professional military forces? There has been much debate recently about the role of private military organizations that are outsourced for defense and security purposes. How should these organizations be held accountable when they are being hired and financed by governments and corporations and not subject to any particular oversight? Should governments be held accountable for the activities of private military organizations? If so, how?
The delegates are asked to determine an oversight mechanism to control and monitor the activities of these organizations.
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… In post-war Germany, former members of the Nazi party were largely excluded from the new government while in postwar Japan, the US relied on former government members to establish the bureaucracy. In Iraq, a de-Baathification process has been underway. There is also the process of holding accountable those who committed gross violations of human rights. In specific cases, the international community has arranged for international criminal tribunals. In Rwanda, perpetrators are being tried in the international tribunal and in national and local trials. The newly-established International Criminal Court also offers a potential avenue to hold perpetrators accountable. Who should put Saddam Hussein on trial?
The delegates are asked to consider what role post-conflict justice should play in developing or redeveloping civil society, specifically in Iraq; if former opposition members should be included in post-conflict governments, and if it is the responsibility or role of the US to determine these issues.
… Does a convention need to be established that addresses the development, research, testing, and spread of weapons of mass destruction? Do states have a right to defend themselves by acquiring and developing weapons of mass destruction? Should there be any nuclear states? Should nuclear weapons be considered separately from biological and chemical weapons? If there should be a treaty preventing the non-proliferation of one or more weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East, who should be charged with its enforcement? What should the means of enforcement be? Should there be a differentiation between offensive and defensive weapons? How would those be defined? Should any treaty allow for scientific research and experimentation using these materials or their components? Should there be complete disclosure of any and all scientific advances in weapons technology? What role should countries and multilateral organizations external to the region play in containing the spread of WMD technology in the Middle East? Should states be prevented from sharing or selling information, expertise, and materiel to non-state actors?
The delegates are asked to consider drafting a regional non-proliferation treaty that addresses the possession and spread of weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East.
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… A recent CNN report detailed arms smuggling from Egypt, through underground tunnels, to Gaza. Palestinian representatives have stated that even when Israel evacuates Gaza, they will continue to smuggle arms until the occupation of Palestinian lands is ended. Can an international agreement realistically control the spread of small arms between countries? Should countries be accountable for small arms finding their way to rebel or terrorist groups? What effect does the instability of one state in the region have on the spread of small arms throughout the region? What implications does this have for national sovereignty and revolutionary or terrorist movements seeking to topple or destabilize governments? The US is the largest arms dealer globally. The US also provides significant military aid to countries in the region. Do states or private firms selling arms have any responsibility for how they are used? Do states providing military assistance or selling arms impact the regional arms race? Is the proliferation of small arms a regional problem or a global problem? Does it need a regional solution or a global solution?
The delegates are asked to consider developing an Agreement that addresses the small arms trade and the proliferation of small arms weaponry in the Middle East.
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… Early in the Bush presidency, Iraq and Iran were cited as two members of the "axis of evil." Characteristics of this designation included allegations of state-supported terrorism and seeking to obtain weapons of mass destruction. In its stated belief that Iraq posed an imminent threat to global stability and possessed weapons of mass destruction, the US invaded the country and toppled Saddam Hussein's regime. Is this an effective means for dealing with a state linked to both terrorism and weapons of mass destruction? With the recent discovery of attempts to produce weapons-grade plutonium in Iran, will Iran face the same fate? How should states seeking to develop weapons of mass destruction be dealt with regionally and globally?
The delegates are asked to submit recommendations for contending with states seeking to develop weapons of mass destruction and have proven connections with terrorist organizations.
… What is "Westernization"? Is it a positive or negative force in the development of the Middle East? What are the positive aspects of Westernization? Can it help in the economic development of these nations? Does Westernization necessarily mean modernization? Can modernization occur within an Islamic context rather than a Westernized, secular one? In the age of communication and technology, is it possible or desirable to curb the spread of Western popular culture in the Middle East? In many Muslim countries in the Middle East, the religious authorities and strict religious adherents are often the most vocal in their opposition to Westernization and the perceived decadence that it brings to their people. At the same time, many of the young people in the Middle East are openly embracing Western clothing, music, food, and lifestyles. Can a balance be found within these societies to appease both groups of people? Can Middle Eastern nations use free trade and open economic relations to spread their own faith and culture to the West, just as the West is spreading its culture to their countries?
Taking the above questions into consideration, the delegates are asked to make recommendations on how Iraqi government should be restructured. Should it be designed as a Westernized nation with a Western-style democracy? Or should the local culture and style of governance be maintained at the risk of developing into an anti-American government?
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… Trade, development and economic assistance, and sanctions are positive and negative means for effecting policy outcomes or changes in countries' behaviors. Following Iraq's military invasion of Kuwait in August 1990, the UN Security Council imposed broad sanctions on Iraq that mainly covered its oil and gas industry. What was the goal of these sanctions? If the US had not initiated the war in Iraq, would these sanctions have been considered effective in achieving their goals? What impact have US-led sanctions on Iraq and Iran had on the economic development of both of these nations? How has the imposition of these sanctions affected regional sentiments towards the West and specifically the United States? Europe has not imposed sanctions on Iran. What are the reasons for the differences in policies and does this affect how the US and Europe are perceived in the Middle East? Are unilateral sanctions effective? Currently, the US is contemplating imposing sanctions on Syria because of its links to terrorist organizations, as well as its unwillingness to help the United States with its War on Terror. Should sanctions be used against Syria? Should the UN continue to impose sanctions on "rogue nations" as a potential means of avoiding war?
The delegates are asked to deliberate the use of sanctions in the Middle East as a tool of foreign policy.
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… How can the US reconcile its economic interests in the Middle East with its stated commitment to bringing democracy to the region? How do these potentially competing interests complicate its relations with current governments? Especially since the US does not consider the current governments to be representative of the people and considers them to be corrupt in some cases, yet still sees them as friendly to the US? Will free trade help the nations of the Middle East improve their conditions and bring more people out of extreme poverty? Will free trade benefit the Middle East or the West? What should be the role of NGO's and multilateral organizations in assisting the economic development of the Middle East? Should micro-finance programs be developed for the Middle East, as they have been in South Asia, to help boost local economies and empower the isolated and voiceless members of society? Please also assess the US's Middle East Initiative for Peace (MEIP).
The delegates are asked to recommend a policy for economic development in the Middle East that includes both external actors as well current local government leaders.
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… Unemployment, lack of social services, and government corruption have left many of the populations of the Middle East critical of their current governments and seeking alternatives. Should local governments and international organizations develop economic assistance and development policies to counter the effectiveness, appeal, and strength of Islamic groups, which often provide effective social welfare programs in many Arab and Muslim nations in the Middle East? Should the US be investing more of its resources and time in social welfare programs rather than in security forces in Iraq in order to bring sustainable security to the region? Should the revenues from Middle East oil be used to fund social welfare programs and to boost economic development projects? How can the corruption attributed to the Iraqi Oil-for-Food program be avoided? Will Iraq, under the oversight of the US, prove to be a model in this regard?
The delegates are asked to consider recommendations for local government to meet the social service needs of their citizens and if there is a role for external actors in helping them achieve these goals.
… With the US proposal to bring democracy to the Middle East also comes a push for equal rights for women. Despite attempts by some Muslims to reinterpret Islam as compatible with gender equality, there has been general resistance to improving women's status in the Middle East. Currently, women have a varying degree of freedom in the many countries of the Middle East. What is the future of the Middle East if half its population does not have full and equal rights? Can increased women rights and labor-force participation help to modernize nations and societies and increase economic development? Is this too much of a Western perspective or should women's rights be universal? Is it appropriate to advocate for universal rights for women? Should these rights be universally, regionally, culturally or religiously based? Will these rights be political, economic, and/or social? What would they encompass? In October 2003, King Muhammad VI presented the Moroccan parliament with a proposed act, similar to Iran's family protection law, that raises the marriage age, gives women new property rights in marriage, opens divorce to women, requires a judge's approval for all divorces, and makes polygamy permissible only with a judge's authorization and the consent of the previous wife or wives. Can reforms like these be implemented in other Middle Eastern countries? Only Tunisia and Turkey have outlawed polygamy, and they are the two Muslim countries with legal systems considered most respectful of gender equality.
The delegates are asked to propose a declaration of rights for women in the Middle East.
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… Examine the issue of the Kurds, not only in Iraq, but in Syria, Turkey and Iran as well. Should the Kurdish population be granted autonomy or independence in Iraq through the intervention of the US? What would be the implications for the Kurdish populations in other countries? What would be the protective measures taken to ensure their autonomy or independence? What rights would be guaranteed under that autonomy? How would external aid play into the situation? What are the implications for other minority groups?
The Conference asks the Human Rights Committee to develop a framework of the positive and negative consequences of granting autonomy or independence for Iraqi Kurds and to make recommendations for the future of the Kurds based on that framework.
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… The US push for democratic reform is also likely to include the protection of the rights of minority groups -- both ethnic and religious -- in the countries of the Middle East, groups that are often currently disenfranchised and offered a limited amount of rights and protections as compared to majority groups.
The delegates are asked to determine basic rights for minority groups along with an enforcement mechanism that will ensure their protection.
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… Are freedom of speech and freedom of the press aspirations for the people of the Middle East? What impact does censorship have on society? What impact does freedom of the press have on society? How has the Internet changed the abilities of governments to control information? Is there an extent to which political censorship of media outlets is valid? In times of conflict or war? Should political authority over media outlets be allowed or discouraged?
The Conference asks the delegates to recommend guidelines for freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and censorship in the Middle East.
… Israel has initiated a multilateral Middle East proposal to establish a regional system to transfer water from areas of plenty to areas of need. It envisions this organization to be a Middle East version of NAFTA or the EU. Is the creation of such an organization in the Middle East feasible? Who will determine which countries get water shipped to them and at what cost? Who will finance the transportation of the water? Can the Middle East countries overcome ideological differences in the name of trade and survival?
The Conference asks the Committee on Oil and Water to suggest a proposal for a potential Middle East agreement on water.
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… Israel receives approximately twenty-five percent of its water supply from the Golan Heights and another twenty-five percent of its water supply from the West Bank. Both of these areas are considered by some as occupied territories, and Israel is reluctant to part with them because of its need for fresh water supplies. Is it possible to create a system that will allow Israel to return these territories but still allow it access to their fresh water supply? How should the water from these territories be divided among Israel and its neighboring countries? What enforcement mechanisms will guarantee access to the water for all parties involved?
The Conference asks the delegates to consider the following questions and propose a negotiated settlement for how to deal with the allocation of water resources from the Golan Heights and the West Bank.
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… The U.S. and other buyers of Middle East oil have a history of supporting and subsidizing current governments, despite what many consider repressive internal policies, because they are friendly to the West. Recently NATO stated it plans to enforce Article 24 of its new Strategic Concept, which includes prevention of "the disruption of the flow of vital resources", including Middle East oil. Is it possible for NATO to pursue this policy while also supporting government reform in the Middle East? Is it more important to preserve the flow of oil or to try to create democratic institutions?
The delegates are asked to suggest a proposal for balancing oil trade and government reform.
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… Shell oil recently ran into complications in Oman in trying to drill oil from mature oil fields -- causing Shell to reduce its anticipated yield by 20 percent and rethink its efforts in other mature oil fields. Providing the region with enough fresh water to meet the human and agricultural needs of a growing population is also a challenge facing the region in the new future.
The delegates are asked to determine the guidelines for a consortium to develop new technologies to address these concerns.
… The Right of Return for Palestinians refers to the demand that Palestinians who were dislocated during the 1948 War be allowed to return to their original homes within Israel's borders. The majority of these Palestinians now live in the West Bank, Gaza, Jordan, and Lebanon. Many of them still reside in refugee camps run by the UN and still maintain their refugee status. Israel refuses to grant the right of return out of concerns that, if all Palestinian refugees are allowed to return to Israel, within 20 years, Israel would cease to exist as a Jewish state. Israelis also note the large population transfer that occurred when Jewish Arabs were forced to leave Arab states and resettle in Israel. Given the high birth rate of the Palestinian population, it is predicted that Jews would become the minority in Israel. What consideration should be given for the continuation of Israel as a Jewish state? If the right of return were to be an accepted policy, which generations of refugees should be granted this right? For how many years into the future should Palestinians be offered the right to return? Israel has offered to provide monetary compensation for Palestinian refugees, but thus far, the Palestinian authority has refused this offer. What sort of monetary compensation model could be feasible?
The Conference asks the delegates to propose a negotiated settlement to the question of the Palestinian Right of Return.
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… Jerusalem holds significant religious significance for both Israelis and Palestinians. Both Israelis and Palestinians consider Jerusalem to be their capitol. The old city is holy to Christians, Muslims, and Jews and is located between the borders of East (Arab) and West (Israeli) Jerusalem. Deciding the future of Jerusalem is one of the major issues in settling the Arab-Israeli conflict. Should the city be divided in a two-state solution? Should it become an international protectorate? Who will be responsible for its security and the security of its citizens? Who will be responsible for maintaining and providing access to the major religious sites? Should US or other forces be deployed as peacekeepers? Should there be a permanent international force?
The Conference asks the delegates to suggest a proposal for the future of Jerusalem.
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Suicide bombings, Israeli military raids into the West Bank and Gaza, and the security wall all threaten and complicate the peace process. Palestinian militant groups have been recruiting an increasing number of people to carry out suicide bombings targeted at Israeli civilians. Recent attacks have marked the participation of women and youth in unprecedented ways. In the territories, Israel has conducted military raids and targeted assassinations of Hamas leaders and others linked to suicide bombings that have also affected civilians, from house demolitions to collateral killings. To prevent the suicide bombings, Israel is in the process of building a separation barrier between the West Bank and Israel. Israel states that the wall is purely a defensive measure to prevent suicide bombers from being able to enter Israel. Critics see it as a political tool to restrict the movement of Palestinians and take control over as much land and as many resources as possible. The fence that separates Gaza from Israel is considered by Israel to be the most effective way of preventing terror attacks committed by Palestinians from Gaza. Controlling the cycle of violence will be critical to a future peace settlement and two-state solution.
The delegates are asked to make constructive recommendations on the effectiveness and viability of the security wall and to ending the violence to facilitate the peace process, including recommendations for the roles of external actors such as the US and the UN.
… Is the separation of religion and government possible or desirable in the Middle East? Can governments in the Middle East exist without religion? What are the implications when governments espouse particular beliefs? As one of the founding principals of Western modernity, secular theory and practice are considered to have made notable contributions to democratization and liberalization in a variety of circumstances. Yet secularism has not fared well in the Middle East.
The delegates are asked to recommend government reforms that avoid the pitfalls of both authoritarian secularism and religious extremism?
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… Religious extremism in many countries in the Middle East threatens to undermine government reforms and keep countries on the edge of instability, holding societies hostage to a minority viewpoint. Some governments have tried to bring extremists into the political process or allow them to establish religious schools and provide social services; others have severely restricted if not banned the activities of extremists. Should extreme religious views be taught in schools? Is religious pluralism an option for most countries? Of special concern are those groups promoting or willing to engage in violence and what many see as terrorist activities.
The delegates are asked to recommend a set of policies for governments to contend with religious extremist groups in society.
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… Mahmood Mamdani, a Uganda-born political scientist and cultural anthropologist at Columbia University, recently argued that the spread of terror as a tactic is largely an outgrowth of American cold war foreign policy. After Vietnam, he argues, the American government shifted from a strategy of direct intervention in the fight against global Communism to one of supporting new forms of low-level insurgency by private armed groups. "In practice," Mr. Mamdani has written, "it translated into a United States decision to harness, or even to cultivate, terrorism in the struggle against regimes it considered pro-Soviet." The real culprit of 9/11, in other words, is not Islam but rather non-state violence in general, during the final stages of the stand-off with the Soviet Union. "The real damage the C.I.A. did was not the providing of arms and money," he writes, " but the privatization of information about how to produce and spread violence - the formation of private militias - capable of creating terror." The best-known C.I.A.-trained terrorist, he notes dryly, is Osama bin Laden. Other recent accounts have examined the ways in which American support for the mujahedeen in the 1980's helped pave the way for Islamic terrorism in the 90's. But Mr. Mamdani posits a new - and far more controversial - thesis by connecting the violent strain of Islam to a broader American strategy. "Mahmood's argument is that terrorism is a defining characteristic of the last phase of the cold war," said Robert Meister, a political scientist at the University of California, Santa Cruz, who has followed Mr. Mamdani's work for three decades. He added, "It was a characteristic that took on, especially in Africa, a logic of its own, a logic that eventually broke free of the geopolitics that started it." (from The New York Times , April 10, 2004, Hugh Eakin)
Looking at terrorism in the Middle East through Mamdani's lens, how would the delegates recommend contending with terrorists operating in the name of Islam?