GUATEMALA
By Jack O'Hara
Groups
All of the groups detail are the Rich & Powerful, Guerrillas & Government (G.G.G), the Peasants, and most importantly, the United States of America.
Accomanying music at the bottom of the page.
Who had the power? How and why did the power change?
To start out the Army & Wealthy had the power. They controlled the whole situation, and did whatever they wanted. Whenever a threat rose it was defeated. Over time though, the power of the Army & Wealthy deteriorated because of the overuse of MSU's (Military Strength Units). This was because the Government & the Guerrillas combined to form a party against the state. That party was called the "G.G.G" (Guerrilla Government Group). The other crucial factor is the aid of the guerrillas from the country of Cuba. In the end the killing blow was the peasant that joined the G.G.G. The United States however, keeping true to their alliance with the Rich & Wealthy took over and instituted a Democratic government in place of the G.G.G's Communistic government, in which everybody had the same amount of MSU's. The reason all of this happened is because of the need for change. From the guerrillas wanting to overthrow the Rich & Powerful, to the United States taking it back from the G.G.G, there are examples of different needs for changes all over the project.
How was cooperation and or conflict shown throughout the game?
What role did the US have on the simulation?
The United states was the central hub for all communication and treaties. They embargoed the G.G.G and all of it's affiliates. That left the Peasants and the Army & Wealthy to do as they must to gain the United State's trust. They eventually became the Army & Wealthy's enduring partners and helped them get back into power after the G.G.G took over. They helped put the Army & Wealthy into power without any opposition. The United States put in a democracy to bring the country back to the way it was before. In a real world analogy, the United States "freed" South Vietnam from the Viet Cong (North Vietnam's Army). Of course we did not completely finish the simulation, as we did not see what happened after the institution of a democracy. As in Vietnam, the United States could have killed two million people and left to leave the country on it's own.
What happens to a country when power shifts, is the effect positive or negative?
When power shifts in a country it is always bad to someone. There will always be one party wanting something that the current party in charge can not provide. There is also always something good that happens whenever power shifts. The effect of it is always opionated. For example, in the game when the G.G.G put a communistic government in place of the current one, the Army & Wealthy ordered the United States to take over and put the Army & Wealthy back in power. In a real world situation it would be more realistic and a better example. In the Civil War of the United States, Abraham Lincoln was the only republican in a office of power at the time. All of the southern democrats knew he was going to abolish* slavery and it was only a matter of time. For the south it would be a devastation to their economy and to the slaves of the United States it would finally mean that they are free. So once again, the effects will always be the opinion of either party.
*Debatable
What relationships do you have in your life, and how are cooperation and conflict evident?
In my life I battle with either one of my sisters on a daily basis. If I were to leave my nephew in his crib for less than a minute while I went to go get a tasty beverage, my older sister would call half of the state and tell them of how bad of a person I am. My nephew would not even be crying and she would. But, in all seriousness, she would have my oldest sister and my mother called in that time. Another example of conflict would be that my oldest sister pays rent* for our basement and plans on buying our house from us within two years. In that time she finds it necessary to do anything and everything to get on my nerves as well as take over. As for cooperation, whenever I need something (video game, friend over, etc.) my mom makes me clean my house so it is spotless. It is not a big chore but it is basically sweeping vacuuming, but it is a example of a exchange.
*Debatable
Attention!
All of these songs have to do with Latin America or the way of command in play, such as saying no.
*killed or captured