Contextualization

Theoretical Introduction

The project we will embark on involves concepts of geopolitics, history, culture, and economics. Understanding the historical and geographical evolution of Russia and Ukraine is fundamental to comprehending the current tensions between the two nations. Geopolitics helps us understand how geographical space, borders, and natural resources influence political relations and international conflicts.

The history of Russia and Ukraine is deeply intertwined. Both countries were part of the Soviet Union and became independent nations after its collapse in 1991. However, the separation was not smooth, culminating in political, cultural, and territorial conflicts that are still visible today.

Ethnic-cultural conflict is another important aspect to consider. The significant presence of ethnic Russians in Ukraine has been a source of tension and conflict. In addition, there is a linguistic divide: Ukraine is officially bilingual, with Ukrainian and Russian as official languages, a situation that generates cultural and political tensions.

The Theme and its Importance

Relations between Russia and Ukraine have been strained since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, and the subsequent conflicts highlight the importance of the theme. Furthermore, the territorial dispute over Crimea and the war in eastern Ukraine draw worldwide attention to the region.

The Russia vs. Ukraine topic is not only a regional geopolitical issue but also has profound implications on a global level, as it involves major world powers like the United States and the European Union and influences global economic arrangements and military strategies.

Practical Activity

Activity Title: "Russia vs Ukraine: Challenges of a Complex Geopolitics" Board Game

Project Objective

The project aims to engage students in a hands-on exercise to understand the complexity of Russia-Ukraine relations by creating a board game that portrays key aspects of their mutual tensions. The game should address key themes such as territorial disputes, cultural and ethnic issues, international sanctions, and geopolitical tensions.

Furthermore, students should apply their knowledge of the subject matter to develop game strategies, create clear rules, and prioritize collaboration and negotiation.

Detailed Project Description

Students, in groups of 3 to 5, should create a board game reflecting the geopolitical situation between Russia and Ukraine. The board should represent the map of Europe, focusing on Russia and Ukraine, and include other countries as game pieces that can influence the game dynamics, portraying the complexity of international geopolitics.

The game should include elements such as:

• Territories (such as Crimea) that can be contested.
• Natural resources that can be exploited by players.
• Historical or geopolitical event cards that can change the course of the game.
• Rules that reflect the current geopolitical, economic, and cultural situation.

Necessary Materials

• Cardboard or wood to create the game board.
• Paper to create the game cards.
• Markers, crayons, pens, etc.
• Game pieces / position markers, which can be made from clay or small objects.

Detailed Activity Steps

1. Research (4 hours): Students should thoroughly research the history and current situation between Russia and Ukraine, including cultural, economic, and political aspects.

2. Game Planning (3 hours): Students should plan the game, deciding how its rules and structure will reflect the geopolitical situation. They will have to define the rules, the pieces, create a map, and the events that could change the game.

3. Materials Creation (4 hours): Students will need time to create the physical materials of the game. They should construct the board, the cards, and the game pieces.

4. Testing and Adjustments (3 hours): Groups should play the game to ensure the rules work and that the game is interesting and challenging. They can make adjustments as needed.

5. Presentation (2 hours): Each group should present their game to the class, explaining the rules, strategy, and how the geopolitical situation is reflected in the game. The group should document each step of the process to include in their report. Each group member should contribute to the report, ensuring that all voices are heard and all aspects of the project are documented.

Project Deliverables and Written Report

Upon completion of the practical activity, each group will have to write a detailed report about the project. The report should follow the structure:

1. Introduction: It should contain an overview of the situation between Russia and Ukraine, the importance of the theme, and the objective of the project.
2. Development: Here, the group should explain in detail how they proceeded to carry out the practical activity, from the initial research to the presentation of the game. The report should indicate the methodology used, the steps of game creation, and how they represented the geopolitical situation through the game rules.
3. Conclusions: The group should reflect on what they learned from the project, both about the subject matter and about socio-emotional skills. It should indicate what the challenges were and how they overcame them.
4. Bibliography: The group should list all the research sources used during the process.

Completing this project will help students better understand the complexity of international relations, enhance their research skills, creative idea development, and collaborative work.