Task Force: Redo Borders

Congratulations!

You have been chosen to research a border dispute and try to solve it by redoing the border. You are welcome to choose your own and design a plan that considers both groups involved in the dispute.

 Why Are We Doing This?

Border disputes occur around the world. India and Pakistan, Iraq and Syria, Israel and Palestine all have histories of border disputes that continue to persist in modern times. Here we ask you to research one of these border disputes, or any other, and try to come up with a solution for the issue by redoing the border.  

 Steps:

1. Before you begin, research a border dispute of your choice. Figure out important logistics (which communities are involved, what territories are in question, how the dispute has affected communities near the border, etc). 
2. Then, try to figure out how you plan to resolve this dispute by redrawing the border.
   1. What important areas are in question?
      1. What significance do they hold for both parties?
   2. Where is the current border? What areas are on both sides of the border?
   3. How do you plan to redo the border?
      1. What areas will need to be divided?
      2. How will you justify your redesign of the border?
3. Think through the possible objections about your border that someone could have and how you would answer them.
   1. What might be some arguments against redoing the border the way you have decided to?
   2. How did you come to the decision to redo the border? 
   3. Are you favoring one side? How?
4. Share with the group and see if you can convince them that your newly done border best solves the dispute at hand.

Things to Keep in Mind:

• You only have to try and solve ONE border dispute.
• You may come up with a solution that favors one side, but be prepared to defend why you chose to do so.