Inca Empire: A Collapsing Civilization 

​​It is 1529 in Cuzco Valley, a stretch of luscious, fertile land in the midst of the Andes of modern-day Peru, and the great Inca Empire was at the peak of its entire existence. However, this immense strength was being tested as the Inca people were posed with problems: outbreaks due to diseases brought to the continent by Christopher Columbus and his crew a few decades prior, and the death of the Sapa Inca—the ruler of the Inca—Huayna Cápac in 1527. A civil war incites between brothers Huáscar and Atahualpa, the sons of the late Sapa Inca, fighting for control of the Realm of the Four Parts. Despite these challenges already present in their lives, the people of the Inca Empire meet their greatest threat arriving from overseas: the Spanish conquistadors. This council of royals, military generals, and valued members of the Inca society will be tasked with combating disease, surviving war, and protecting the land, culture and legacy of the great civilization from colonization.

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Twin Pillars of Rome Joint Crisis Committee: The Carolingian and Byzantine Empires 

The Byzantines have ruled over the remnants of the Roman empire for centuries. When Rome fell to darkness, it was Constantinople that stood firm and kept the spirit of Rome alive. But for the first time in centuries a challenger to that title exists: The Carolingian Empire. The year is 780 AD. Queen Irene rules until her eldest son Constantine comes of age, but rumblings within the empire lead many to wonder whether she will be so willing to relinquish the throne. Religious strife and cultural upheaval abound in the Byzantine with inner conflict over iconoclasm and the Islamic caliphate threatening on the Eastern frontier. The empire may face unprecedented inner turmoil, but it isn't ready to relinquish the crown of Holy Rome just yet. An uneasy alliance exists among years of conflict with the Carolingian empire and Charlamagne, but both empires acknowledge the unspoken truth: Charlamagne desires the crown of all of old Rome for himself. But if the upstart to the west wants it, he’ll have to come and take it. The glorious Byzantine empire, the Eastern Pillar of Rome herself, has more strength than Charlamagne knows…..

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As the sun sets on the once great Byzantine empire, the Crown of the Holy Roman empire awaits a suitable ruler. And who better to take the throne of Rome than The Great Charlemagne? There is no truer heir than the conqueror of the Saxons and Lombards and ruler of the mighty and glorious Carolingian Empire. A tentative peace exists between the empires, and Charlamagne has used this peace to expand his empire and implement structural and social change throughout the lands he rules. Under his hand the empire has achieved strength, wealth, religious unity, and the favor of the pope himself. Although the empires are at peace, neither forgets the recent wars, and neither is foolish enough to believe it will last forever. In the end, the strong prevail and the weak fall; this has always been the way of Rome. And none are stronger than Charlamagne. The once-proud Byzantine, the Eastern pillar of Rome, is crumbling, and when it falls only the Carolingian empire, the mighty pillar of the West, will stand among the rubble.

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Japan 2231: Pokémon Rights Crisis

In the year 2231, the pollution of the 21st century caused most non human life on earth to mutate. The change was initially slow, but over the next 150 years, mutated animals began to develop strange abilities in addition to higher brain function. Scientists began to study these creatures as their mutated abilities grew stronger with each generation. In turn, Society began shape around the new abilities of these creatures. Mice, rabbits and sheep became able to carry and transmit electric charge making them alternative sources of power. As these abilities strengthened, however, the wild animals became more of a problem. Scientists developed new ways to capture these mutated animals in an energy state. In recent years, people have begun capturing these mutated animals for sport, keeping them in an energy state, and only releasing them in order to force the animals to fight other mutated creatures. Without regulation, this sport of forcing these animals, now commonly called “Pokémon,” to fight each other will only grow into something uncontrollable. On top of this, reports of criminals using these empowered animals to commit crimes are becoming more common every day. It is only a matter of time until an incident occurs. The Japanese government has created a task force known as the Kanto Administration of Naturally Transformed Organisms (KANTO). As a member of this committee, you will need to join your peers in forming new laws to protect these creatures from misuse and abuse while also figuring out how to safely combat the growing use of Pokémon in crime.

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​Dinner at the Blue House: South Korea, 1961

​The year is 1961, and General Park Chung-hee’s military coup has come to fruition, establishing a new, mysterious government with General Park at helm. The South Korean economy is in shambles after the bloody Korean War and the corrupt regime of Syungman Rhee, leaving North Korea as the stronger Korea. Park wants to rapidly develop South Korea, but needs the support of the chaebols, the corporate dynasties that hold the future of South Korea’s economy in their hands. These chaebols are walking a fine line between appeasing Park’s desires and attracting the ire of Park’s administration. Park needs their help to achieve his Korean vision, a project that could result in massive gains for the chaebols as well as the Korean people. Although disobedience comes at a cost, cooperation may lead to greater political influence and economic prosperity. In this committee, delegates will act either as heads of the most powerful chaebols or high-profile political leaders and must juggle the responsibilities of appeasing the Park regime, influencing Park himself, and filing their own pockets (and perhaps enriching the country along the way). Delegates will have the ability to form partnerships with political leaders and form their own conglomerates for their mutual benefit, but greed will test the strength of these alliances over the course of the committee. 

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Medicare for None: ​Social Security Crisis 2036

This crisis committee will explore the dynamic between politicians, corporate lobbyists, and social advocacy groups in the creation of public policy. Through the simulation of these back-room deals, we aim to develop better understandings of the American legislative process and this imminent crisis before we experience it ourselves in the not-so-distant future.
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Remember the Alamo? The Texas Revolution 

 The Remember the Alamo(?) Committee is an alternate history crisis committee that seeks to re-evaluate the cultural symbol of the Alamo. We’re going to begin as if the Battle of the Alamo ended in a stalemate, with the Mexican Army retreating back to mainland Mexico to reconsider their course of action. We aim to evaluate the impact of Texas’ colonization of Indigenous land by groups of Europeans and how that resulted in a complex synthesis of cultures. We’ll analyze this context and what it means for the reasons and goals of the Texas Revolution. We’ll get to research and discuss the area’s culture, economics, nature/wildlife, and government methods while simultaneously finding out the fate of who controls Texas and by what means. We hope you’ll join us in questioning how and why we should remember the Alamo!