Comparative Politics – State-building and Regime-design Exercises

This semester-long assignment involves students working collaboratively in groups to engage in a three-part workshop series:

State Building: Students start by conceptualizing and rebuilding state institutions for either an existing or a fictional country. This foundational phase is detailed in the initial document, the “State Building Guide,” which also outlines the specific roles each student will assume.

Regime Design and Constitution Writing: Following the establishment of state institutions, students proceed to design the regime institutions and draft a constitution, further solidifying the governance framework of their country.

Conflict Resolution Strategies: The final phase challenges students to anticipate and strategize solutions for potential conflicts and crises that could arise from the political structures they have created. At this stage, I develop specific crisis or conflict scenarios, designed to evaluate the strength and effectiveness of the political institutions they have established. I would be glad to share sample scenarios to give a better understanding of this exercise if anyone is interested.