The Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota kicked off its annual International Strategic Crisis Negotiation Exercise (ISCNE) on Friday and Saturday, allowing students to participate in a mock international crisis.
The main objective of ISCNE is to expose participants to international strategic negotiations and team dynamics. This year’s exercise had a record 53 student participants.
This year’s scenario featured real crises in Central Asia over border disputes between Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan and shared water resources.
Student participants were randomly separated and placed into groups to represent seven countries: China, India, Russia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan.
The ISCNE is an annual event and one-credit course facilitated by the Humphrey School and the Center for Strategic Leadership at the U.S. Army War College, according to Jon Olson, an adjunct faculty member in the Humphrey School.
ISCNE Director Ed Zukowski said the mock crisis allows students to enhance their curriculum by applying what they learn in class to real-life scenarios, albeit simulated.
“They’re going to take things that they learn in the classroom about working for a non-governmental organization or maybe working for the state department,” Zukowski said. “Now they get to put it into practice.”
Zukowski said the second day of the event is his favorite day because participants start to understand the exercise.
“Honestly, it’s visible for most students where you go. They’re getting it, and they’re understanding how to do this,” Zukowski said. “And so that’s my favorite part of the exercise is watching that transformation.”
On top of the 53 students involved, the ISCNE had mentors involved, helping each country. There was a wide variety of professional mentor experiences, including those from the United Nations, military and professors.
One mentor, Eric Schwartz, is a professor at the Humphrey School and chairs its global policy area. Schwartz helped start the ISCNE at the University in 2016.
Even though he helped start the ISCNE at the University, Schwartz said this year was a full circle moment, as it was his first year as a mentor.
“Every student I’ve ever spoken to about this negotiation says to me that it’s the coolest thing they’ve done or one of the coolest things they’ve done at the Humphrey School,” Schwartz said.
One such student is Morgan Coleman, a second-year graduate student. In this year’s crisis, Coleman’s second year participating, she was the head of delegation for the Republic of Tajikistan.
“Honestly, it’s the most fun I have during my time here at Humphrey,” Coleman said. “Last year, I had an absolute blast getting to hone and develop my negotiation skills, presentation skills, my speech writing and speech making.”
Coleman said the ISCNE is important to students because they can make connections with foreign policy professionals and former ambassadors.
“It can turn into long-lasting relationships,” Coleman said. “If they continue to foster, they will be able to support their career aspirations.”
First-year graduate student Lia Messinger served as a delegate for Tajikistan and said it gives people a good opportunity to be in a simulation not typically accessible.
“It gives you a good idea of whether you’re interested in maybe doing diplomacy work,” Messinger said. “It’s also a good opportunity to just meet other people, socialize and have access to different mentors and other things. So I think you don’t need to be someone within international relations to do it.”
Messinger said she encourages students to participate and have an open mind.
“If you’re low on credits and you’re interested in a new opportunity, I would say it’s a great opportunity,” Messinger said. “If you have any interest in diplomacy or international relations or just want to do something different, I think it’s a great opportunity.”
Canada’s Consul General for the Midwest Beth Richardson served as the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Central Asia in the ISCNE and said that it is important for young people to get more exposure to how diplomacy works in practice.
“They should know this is real-life exposure to how countries negotiate conflict,” Richardson said. “Those are lessons that you can learn and bring into your own life, regardless of what you’re studying.”
Next year’s event will take place on Oct.17 and 18, 2025.