The World Affairs Council’s G20 Summit

A.     What is it?

Assuming the role of financial representatives from one of the 19 nations or key international institutions constituting a G20 summit, students will simulate the dynamics of an international economic partnership charged with securing both global financial stability and sustained and equitable growth.

The final “deliverable” for the Council’s G20 Summit is a communiqué achieved through debate and compromise, and ultimately agreed upon by all delegates on the assigned issues.

B. What is a typical Summit agenda?

8:30 – 9 a.m.                 Registration

9:00 a.m.                        Welcome & Introduction

9:15 – 10:30 a.m.         Keynote Panel and Q&A Discussion

10:35 – 11:45 a.m.       Delegation Committee Breakout (Policy Scenario Discussion)

11:45 – 12:15 p.m.       Lunch for all; Working lunch for student leaders

12:15 – 1:30 p.m.         Delegation Reporting and Moderated Discussion

1:30 p.m.                        Adjournment

C. What is a country delegation? What is its primary role and responsibility?

Following the morning expert panel presentation, students break out into country delegations. Each delegation represents one of nineteen participating nations or the EU. Student leadership positions will include spokespersons for each of the 20 delegations. The key leadership post will be Mexican President Felipe Calderon, host of the 2012 G20 Summit.

The Council will randomly assign students to country delegations once the registration process is completed. Delegations will comprise somewhere between 10 and 20 student delegates, representing high schools from across the greater Philadelphia region.

Each delegation’s ultimate objective is to craft a communiqué that will win the support of the other 19 delegations. Each delegation will review and discuss the same set of pre-written policy proposals for both issues being addressed. Delegates will first have to prioritize the issues in the order they wish to address them and then, within each issue, select from this range of predetermined policy positions as to which best reflects their nation’s interest. Delegates will be free to amend the proposed policy positions if there is none that effectively reflects their nation’s interest. The delegation will then devise a set of talking points to support their positions.

During lunch, delegation leaders will meet and review all 20 delegations’ priorities and proposals, identifying common areas of consensus and differences. Following lunch, all delegations reconvene in the auditorium where the G20 Host, President Felipe Calderon, will report the lunchtime findings of the delegation leaders. Following this report, delegations will have a second opportunity to briefly reconvene on the G20 plenary floor in an effort to review and revise their priorities and policy preferences in light of the general findings detailed by President Calderon.  Each delegation will then complete a second reporting sheet with their final list of priorities and policy statements. Delegation leaders will submit these lists to President Calderon and a skilled moderator, who will then facilitate the final set of negotiations among the 20 delegations with the aim of reaching consensus on one integrated communiqué.

D. Are there any preparatory materials that the Council provides?

Yes, the Council posts briefing papers and a comprehensive resource list for each topic.

E. What are the topics for the 2012 G20 Summit?

Global Youth Unemplyment and Food Security

F.  What are the important dates to remember?

Student Leader Selection Interviews, World Affairs Council, One South Broad Street - 2M
Feb. 7 & 8; 3:45 - 5:15 p.m.

Student Leader Prep Sessions, World Affairs Council, One South Broad Street - 2M
February 23; 3:45 - 5:15 p.m.

G20 Summit, Temple University, The Fox School of Business: Alter Hall - 1801 Liacouras Walk
March 9, 8:30 - 1:30 p.m.                                                             

F.  How do I register?

Go to the G20 Registration Page.

Registration Deadline: Friday, February 3, 2012

Cost: $50 per student participant

Number of students per school: Each school may send up to 20 student participants. In the event that our maximum student number is not reached, we may be able to accept additional students.
G. Payment Information

Upon receipt of school registration forms and subsequent determination of assignments, the Council will send you an invoice. Please remit all payments to Jennifer Ralston at World Affairs Council of Philadelphia, One South Broad St., 2 Mezz, Philadelphia, PA 19107.