Sour grapes : simulating a WTO dispute settlement case

This project has two purposes. The first is to provide readers with a descriptive overview of a simulation of a World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute settlement case (being European Communities - Measures Affecting Wine Imports). The simulation took place in a graduate level international trade course. Secondly, and arguably more importantly, the purpose of this project is to examine the usefulness and effectiveness of simulations as a teaching tool in international studies classes. Simulations are one of three interactive learning techniques that provide unique benefits not realized through traditional teaching methods. This project provides an overview of the WTO dispute settlement mechanism, discusses the actual dispute that was simulated and describes how the classroom simulation unfolded. The final analysis is conducted under the guise of four questions. Was the simulation an accurate reflection of what actually takes place? What significance did the simulation have for students of Canadian trade policy? Did the simulation contain the five major components as recommended by the literature? And, was the simulation effective? The final question uses a behaviour-content matrix, based on Bloom and Krathwohl's Taxonomies for the Writing of Educational Objectives. It is informed by interviews with the course instructor, student questionnaire responses and the author's own personal assessment as both a student who took the course and as a professional who works in the trade law field.--Page ii.