“Breaking the Great Wall: US National Security Council 1971” puts delegates into the Situation Room in Washington, D.C., at the height of the Cold War, where the Nixon Administration is preparing one of the boldest diplomatic gambles in modern history: reopening relations with the People’s Republic of China. In a world shaped by proxy wars, nuclear tensions, and paranoia, delegates serving on the US National Security Council must navigate the complicated politics of détente, troubled alliances, and the ever-present fear of global escalation. In this specialized committee, delegates will work through directive cycles with some crisis elements, negotiate secret backchannels, manage intelligence disasters, and determine whether America’s opening to China becomes a diplomatic masterstroke or an international catastrophe. As part of a Joint-Specialized Committee alongside the PRC Politburo, every action taken in Washington may trigger consequences in Beijing, meaning one poorly worded communiqué could spiral into anything from a trade breakthrough to a Cold War meltdown. With historical figures, covert operations, and enough geopolitical drama to rival a spy thriller, this committee challenges delegates to outmaneuver rivals, survive internal political chaos, and maybe, just maybe, change the course of history.

STAFF:

Josephine Froman - Chair