Looking forward to (potentially) participating in the Connections UK 2022 programme.
France 24 Feature
Thank you to Sophia Khatsenkova for including me in this feature.
New Arrival
Contemplating additional Narrative Cards featuring by-election events, as well as the potential for an expansion that models the Stormont seats.
But not until the base version is released.
‘Torn Apart’ by Ken Wharton
Was recently gifted this. Thank you, Keith.
“History shouldn’t be easy. History shouldn’t be pleasing” (Malcolm, 2021, p.33).
The Troubles is NOT a game.
The Troubles IS an educational simulation.
The Troubles has been designed for teaching the complex historical, political, social and economic narratives that interwove a significantly important and deeply sensitive period of the 20th Century; one which continues to have domestic and international ramifications.
It has benefitted from international support spanning a variety of academic disciplines, including history, politics, literacy, counterterrorism and game design theory.
Why? As Vasily Grossman stated: “It is the writer’s duty to tell the terrible truth, and it is a reader’s civic duty to learn this truth. To turn away, to close one’s eyes and walk past is to insult the memory of those who have perished. Only those who have learned the whole truth can ever understand.” (Grossman, V. p165-66, 2011).
History Education seeks “to encourage rigorous and critical thinking about the past” (History and Scotland’s Curriculum for Excellence, British Educational Research Association, 2017).
The aim of this analog model is to facilitate this in a richer, more engaging format, providing challenging intellectual and ethical opportunities for reflexive learning that perhaps other more passive mediums – documentaries, books, films, etc. – cannot; “In the physical environment, it is impossible for [participants] to evade the consequences of off-kilter ethics” (Butler, p.110).
The Troubles allows its participants to co-construct an historically-accurate, complex narrative, “involving the reader in the story emotionally” (Osborne & Avraamidou (2009)).
The Troubles is not a game. The Troubles is an educational simulation. And Peace is the only successful outcome.
Pax Christi +
References
Butler, Joy. (2013). Situating Ethics in Games Education. Canadian Journal of Education, v36 n4 p93-114 2013.
Grossman, V. (2011). The Hell of Treblinka in The Road: Short Fiction and Essays (p165-66), Maclehose Press, 2011.
Malcolm, F. (2021). Teaching the Srebrenica Genocide, in History Teaching Review, Vol 27. (pp. 30-33) (Ed. Smith, J)
Osborne, Avraamidou (2009). The Role of Narrative in Communicating Science. International Journal of Science Education.
Smith, J. (2016): What remains of history? Historical epistemology and historical understanding in Scotland’s Curriculum for Excellence, The Curriculum Journal, DOI: 10.1080/09585176.2016.1197138
Vrasidas, C., Avraamidou, L., Theodoridou, K., Themistokleous, S. & Panaou, P. 2015. Science Fiction in Education: case studies from classroom implementations. Educational Media International.
Development: Political Targets
On the 14th November the Ulster Unionist Party MP, Robert
Bradford was shot dead by the IRA; a 29-year old civilian was
also killed. Several Catholics were murdered in retaliation, and
the attendance at Bradford’s funeral by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland was openly criticised by Unionists.
This incident is enshrined in Narrative Card #183, and enables – as part of the Development mechanic – the paramilitary factions to target Political Influence counters; this increases Terror/Fear in County Seats, as well as reducing the political presence of either Political Faction.in the affected seat.
“[S]omeone may well ask. “Why recall such things? It is the writer’s duty to tell the terrible truth, and it is a reader’s civic duty to learn this truth. To turn away, to close one’s eyes and walk past is to insult the memory of those who have perished. Only those who have learned the whole truth can ever understand…” (Grossman, V. p165-66, The Hell of Treblinka in The Road: Short Fiction and Essays, Maclehose Press, 2011).
Pre-Order
Narrative Card #222 – Pat Finucane
Pat Finucane was an Irish lawyer known for representing Republicans and members of the Irish Republican Army. He was assassinated at his home – shot 14 times – on 1st February 1989 by the Ulster Defence Association, which had colluded with the British Government intelligence service, MI5. The Conservative Leader and Prime Minister, David Cameron, made a formal apology in 2011, and despite the various formal enquiries that ensued, one of which was requested by Amnesty International, no one has ever been prosecuted.
British Forces Base Deployments (circa 1970)
Striving for historical accuracy…
The Troubles 