BORCA CRISISSITUATION

Borca is an emerging nation somewhere in Asia. This nation has recently

gained its independence after years of colonial rule. Prior to colonization by

European powers, Borca was divided between the four major ethnic groups.

These groups each rule their areas independently. With the newly acquired

freedom came the decision that in order to survive in the world today, it will be

necessary for the four groups to unite under one government. In the long run, this

unity is necessary if the groups hope to compete in the world economy. Of more

immediate concern is the military threat posed by the Madawans.

Historically, the Madawans have been enemies of all four Borcan ethnic

groups. Prior to colonization, the Madawans regularly invaded and raided the

different regions of Borca. The Madawans, who have been independent for many

years, view Borca’s independence as an opportunity to expand their territory, to

gain access to more natural resources, and to gain a seaport. The only way to

prevent a Madawan conquest is for all four ethnic groups to unite into one nation.

As with any emerging nation, there are other problems to be solved.

These are described in the handout and include political, economic, and social

problems. In order to solve these problems and prevent the Madawan invasion, a

type of government must be chosen that is acceptable to all four ethnic groups.

You are a member of one of the four dominant ethnic groups of this

emerging nation. You and several others have been chosen to represent your

ethnic group at the convention that will decide on the future government of Borca.

The number of delegates at the convention and their ethnic differences reflect the

size of each of the ethnic groups. A description of each of these groups and their

interests is included in the handout. It is your job to see that a government is

chosen that will best meet the needs of your ethnic group. You and your fellow

Borcans must also write a functional constitution that will address all of the needs

of Borca. At the same time, it is important to remember that if the convention

fails to decide on a government in 4 days with a functional constitution that meets

the needs of the nation and your group, the Madawans will invade and will

control all of Borca.

Intro to BorcaToday new nations in African and Asia have many of the same problems

that troubled the young United States of America. They also must create new

governments which can deal with those problems. The country of Borca is

imaginary, but its problems would sound very familiar to the American colonists

and to the leaders of many of today’s new countries.

Borca is a land of variety. In the south, the plentiful rainfall and rich soil

ensure good harvests. In the north, the dry, treeless lands support cattle and

goat herds. In the northeast, the flatlands give way to the rugged Sirik Mountains.

The few people who live in the Siriks make their living by hunting. Their lives are

hard.

Four tribes live in Borca: the Duda, Lakali, Kan-Kan, and Woodzi. They

have recently decided to unite and become one nation. The leaders of the tribes

are meeting in the Lakali city of Synburg to choose a form of government for

Borca. The question the leaders must answer is: what form of government will

best suit the people of Borca—dictatorship, oligarchy, or representative

democracy? The many differences between the four tribes make this question

difficult to answer. Here is a brief description of each of the tribes.

The dudasThe Duda tribe, with 800,000 people, makes up

over half of the entire Borcan population. Most Dudas are farmers. Their land is rich, and they grow more than enough to feed their families. What they don’t eat themselves they sell to Kan-Kan and Lakali. A typical Duda farmer builds his own house; clears, plans, and harvests his own crop; and makes his own tools from wood and stone. He greatly enjoys his independence and is not used to taking orders from others. He values education, which helps him grow better crops.

The lakalisThe Lakali region is laced with many rivers.

Because of its rivers and fine harbor at Port Saz,

Lakali is naturally suited for trade. The Lakalis are the merchants of Borca. They trade Borcan farm products and beef for products from Easa, Wesa, and other countries. Trade has made the Lakalis rich; the 300,000 Lakalis control most of Borca’s money. The Lakalis value education, and many of them have studied overseas. The fine university in Synburg is the only university in Borca. Wealth and education have made many Lakalis smug. Evidence of this feeling is a jump-rope rhyme often heard on the streets of Synburg:

The Lakalis must ‘cause the Woodzis won’tWhile the Kan-Kans can’t and the Dudas don’t.

The kan-kansThe 400,000 Kan-Kans live in the dry northern plains of Borca. Across

their border is the warlike country of Madawa. The Kan-Kans seem shy and peaceful as they herd their goats and cattle. However, Madawa has never been able to defeat the stubborn Kan-Kan warriors. Constant warfare with Madawa has affected the Kan-Kans. They distrust everything and everyone foreign. They refuse modern medicine and education, and up-to-date methods of doing things. Most Kan-Kans have adopted the practice of polygamy. This practice of having more than one wife at the same time arose because so many Kan-Kan warriors were killed in battle and the tribe was growing smaller. The Kan-Kans are interested in Borcan unity only because the tribe needs financial help from Lakali and food from Duda.

The woodzisThe Woodzi tribe is very small; it has less than 100,000 people. The

Woodzis live in small bands which wander from valley to mountaintop in search of game. The hard life of an ordinary Woodzi makes him value hunting and tracking skills much more than city manners and fine dress. Whenever a young Woodzi boy comes down from the Sirik Mountains, he is laughed at. Due to backward manners and rough clothing, the Dudas and Lakalis treat the Woodzis as outsiders. Usually, Woodzis who venture down from the mountains quickly return to the only place of acceptance: the Sirik Mountains.

************************BORCA NEEDS

Our Constitution must address************************

1. A Leader to Unite the Borcans

2. More Schools and Hospitals

3. Better Roads and Railroads

4. A Strong Defense Against Madawa

5. A Economic Growth and

Development Plan

6. An End to Discrimination Against

the Woodzis

Convention ScenarioThe evening before the assembly

opened, many visitors and residents gathered in Synburg’s main square. Borca’s most respected newspaper, the Syn-Times, put up this large poster in the square. It was a list of Borca’s pressing problems. The paper wanted to encourage the assembly to form the kind of government that could deal with such problems.

The crowd hotly debated the issues on the poster. “It’s true enough we need hospitals,” said one man, but I can’t see wastin’ too much money on schools.”

“Well, where are all the doctors for your hospitals gonna come from then?” someone called out.

“Aw, them wild Woodzi kids’ll never go to school anyhow. You can hardly get ‘em inside a building—much less teach ‘em.”

A Kan-Kan man also doubted the need for schools. “A father teaches his sons, and a mother teaches her daughters; this is the oldest and best way to live.

A young man pointed to the poster and said, “I think we need these things all right, but where will the money come from? Railroads aren’t exactly cheap!”

“Taxes!” cried several voices at once.“Well, they’d better take it easy on us,” said a old woman. “What with the

price of meat gone up the way it has, we’re barely able to make do now.”“Don’t worry,” cackled an old man. “You look well enough off to me. It’s the

real poor who end up paying the taxes—the rich just pay off the tax collectors!”“They better not try any of that funny business on us.”“We’d show ‘em a thing or two.”Just then, music was heard, and the Daughters of Duda Marching Band

entered the main square. They led a parade of the Dames of Duda, who were carrying banners with the slogans ONE FOR ALL and ALL FOR ONE. This was not simply a demonstration in favor of unity, as the crowd learned when the women began to sing:

“All good ladies sing this song,Duda! Duda!

Just one wife is never wrong,Oh, Duda Dames!”

Most of the Kan-Kan men pretended not to notice the words of the song, although several of their wives seemed interested.

The Woodzis just laughed; they have no strict tribal rules about marriage. They believe that family arrangements should be left to the people involved.

However, the Dames were determined to get signatures on a petition to the assembly. They wanted a law forbidding any Borcan from practicing polygamy. Many women and a few men signed the petition. Then people started

to go to their homes or hotels since it was getting late. Finally a thunderstorm broke, and everyone ran inside.

The Assembly/ConventionTHE QUESTIONSThe question facing the tribal delegates at Synburg is: what form of government

would be best for Borca? One of the Kan-Kan delegates, Jav T. Baken, known

throughout Borca as “the Old One,” just announced to the assembly that six

questions are being distributed to each tribal delegation. Consider the interests of

your tribe and answer these six questions.

1) Borca needs a leader or group of leaders to unite the people. We need

leadership that all Borcans will respect. Would a dictatorship, oligarchy,

or representative democracy be most likely to provide the kind of

leadership we need? Why?

a. The constitution must address the selection and representation

in Borca.

2) Borca needs hospitals, schools, and highways. The money for these

projects will have to come from taxes. Which form of government—

dictatorship, oligarchy, or representative democracy—could most

quickly pass tax laws and collect money.

a. Your constitution must address healthcare

b. Your constitution must address education

c. Your constitution must address transportation infrastructure

3) The people of Kan-Kan and Woodzi are afraid of unexpected attacks

from Madawa. They want a government that will be able to help them

on short notice. Which form of government could organize the quickest

defense, yet still be accepted by Kan-Kans and Woodzis? Why?

a. Your constitution must address a strong military to deter attacks

from the warring Madawans.

b. Who will serve, for how long and how will this military be

financed.

4) Borca needs to become more modern. An intelligent plan for

developing trade, farming, and industry will speed up its progress. The

planners should be well-educated Borcans with expert knowledge and

experience. With what form of government will Borca get the best

planners? Why?

a. Will you be an isolationist nation or will you reach out for help

from foreign nations?

b. How will you ensure you can feed your people?

5) Which form of government can best end discrimination against the

Woodzis? Why?

a. Unity is impossible when a minority group is discriminated

against. How will you ensure civil rights not just for the Woodzis

but for all Borcans?

6) If a representative democracy were chosen, would you support equal

representation from each tribe or representation based on population?

Why?

a. How will you ensure fair representation for all Borcans?

SpeechAs a tribe, you must get ready to present your ideas at tomorrow’s convention. What that entails is outlined here.

THE TASKYour ethnic group is responsible for delivering an introductory speech to

the entire delegate assembly. You will need to write a short speech (maximum of three minutes) that introduces your group’s ideas to the other delegates. You will also need to choose someone who you feel can effectively deliver this speech.

THE PURPOSEThis speech will serve two purposes, both of which are very important to

attaining your group’s goals. Your first purpose is to clearly state your group’s ideas since many of the delegates may be unfamiliar with your ethnic group and may be hearing these ideas for the first time. Your second purpose is to persuade. There will be many different opinions at the convention, and you hope to persuade as many delegates as possible to your point of view.

THE CONTENTYour speech must include all of the following:

1. your ethnic group’s needs2. your ethnic group’s concerns3. what your ethnic group has to offer4. your ethnic group’s willingness to cooperate in the process

YOUR GRADEEveryone in the group will receive a grade for the speech. Thus, it is

important that everyone has some input into the speech’s content and also that your groups takes care in choosing the person to deliver the speech. The grade will be based on content, persuasiveness, and delivery.

The ConventionThe first task is to select a leader who will run the convention. This should be a carefully considered choice. There may be times when the leader must calm people down. There will be times when the leader must provide order and direction to the convention.

The second task is to select a secretary to record the decisions regarding the new Borcan constitution. This person will keep records of the convention.

Once a leader/moderator and secretary is elected, each tribe will be given a chance to deliver its opening speech. After speeches have been delivered, the debate will begin. The task is to choose a form of government for this newly united group. Your tribe’s grade depends upon how well you consider your group’s interests and how well you fight for those interests. Plus, everyone’s grade will be affected by whether Borca’s delegates reach a decision or not.

BORCA JOURNALYou will keep a journal of your experiences as a delegate to the assembly

in Synburg. You do not need an actual journal or notebook to complete this

assignment. You may use notebook paper or type your entries.

You will need to have an entry for each day that you are involved in this

process. You will record each day’s experiences and also your impressions and

thoughts on the day’s proceedings. Remember, you are writing this journal as a

delegate to the assembly – not as a Woodstock Academy student. You may

choose to make things up to include in your entries, but these things need to

remain consistent with what really happened that day. Don’t be afraid to be

somewhat creative. Also, don’t get so carried away with creativity that you

overlook the basic task at hand. The more effort you put into this, the better your

grade will be.

Groups A block

Dudas

33%

Lakalis

21%

Kan-Kan

29%

Woodzis

17%