Exch+Development

A spaceship carrying about 500 families on a tour of the outer universe crashed on a distant, unexplored planet and there is no hope of rescue. There are sufficient resources for everyone's survival but there is no agreement on how to best live in this new environment. Everyone has different ideas on how to use the resources and what should be the priorities of the new society that they must build together. Tensions are very high. Already a group of tough guys have taken over the best farming land for themselves and a woman was raped. If norms, rules, and goals are not decided soon, total chaos could result. Your team has been given the task of forming a plan to restore order and develop norms and rules that are most appropriate to the situation.

The point of this type of problem is to illuminate cultural differences and hopefully get the students to better understand their couterparts and why they think a certain way. It is also very topical as it will be necessary to negotiate the balance btwn authoritarian rule and the importance of individual freedom.