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Become a citizen diplomat -- negotiate, persuade, compromise, convince --
if only for one night!
Ever wish you could understand what goes on behind the scenes when diplomats tackle the problems of our world, like migration, famine and factional conflicts? What is it like to be in the room where solutions happen?
Join the Freedom Cafe and World Affairs Council of NH for a Diplomacy Simulation based on an imagined, but all too familiar, scenario seeking to protect a persecuted minority group and preventing another refugee crisis from occurring.
In this highly interactive, two-hour program, you will take on the role of diplomat, focusing on a minority group known as the Rubits in the fictitious country of Budan. The majority population in Budan is persecuting the Rubits for their religion. Many Rubits have fled as refugees across the border into the neighboring country of Gilbia, straining resources and local responses.
As a participant in the diplomacy simulation, you will join a team of negotiators to represent one of the critical stakeholders in this simulation. Working together and independently, you will have the opportunity to negotiate to create the best deal possible for your team's interests. This engaging simulation sticks you in the middle and challenges you to represent the interests of on of the following groups:
- Gilbia - the country receiving refugees
- Budan - the country asserting its national soverienty
- U.S. Department of State - the country looking to mediate
- U.N. High Commission on Refugees - looking to protect refugees and support resettlement
- Association for Refugees & Minorities - a nonprofit looking to support refugees and their protection.
When you register for the free event, you have the option to choose which team you'd like to be on -- gather your friends and neighbors to present a united front -- or sign up as a free agent to be placed on a team! You will receive background information and materials to support your team argument, in advance.
Then, guided by WACNH facilitators, your team will try to resolve this humanitarian and human rights crisis by finding common ground to prevent a worsening of the refugee situation in Gilbia.
Over the course of the evening, you will:
- Work with your teammates to define your negotiating position.
- Present your opening statements to the other teams.
- Break into negotiating groups to lay the groundwork for agreements
- Pause for refreshments and informal conversations about where things stand.
- Send a representative from each team to the main "negotiating table" to try to reach consensus.
- Define your take-aways.
Are you willing to jump in and address this urgent situation?
We believe you bring the necessary skills to this table and to future opportunities: the ability to hear others’ viewpoints; the ability to analyze your own and others’ positions and goals; a spirit of cooperation; and a belief that everyone can be a part of a solution when you work to Negotiate, Convince, Compromise & Persuade.
The World Affairs Council of New Hampshire and the Freedom Cafe present this engaging simulation for free.
Who: Freedom Cafe and World Affairs Council of NH
What: Interactive Diplomacy Simulation on the topic of migration in a hypothetical situation. Free and open to the public. Light refreshments served.
When: Thursday, October 20, 2026, 6:30-8:30 pm.
Where: The Freedom Cafe, 37 Main Street, Durham NH 03824
About Diplomacy Simulations
The National Museum of American Diplomacy offers WACNH immersive programs that the Council uses with high school and college students and interested organizations to explore the goals and practice of diplomacy, teach diplomatic skills, build global awareness and understanding and illustrate how the critical work of American diplomats impacts people’s everyday lives.
The Diplomacy Simulation Program is the Diplomacy Museum’s premier educational tool. In a collaborative learning environment, participants step into the shoes of real-life diplomats. Participants receive a scenario related to a global issue, in this case a hypothetical but topical situation, with six stakeholder groups (e.g., foreign ministries, NGOs, and international organizations), each with different perspectives and priorities. Participants then role-play these stakeholders in small teams. Under facilitated time constraints to keep the program moving, the groups are challenged to negotiate a peaceful solution to the crisis in the scenario. Participants use the information provided in the simulation packet to develop their group’s policy positions and defend or modify their choices in real time.
Presented In Partnership with:
